Frank Williamson Benson (March 20, 1858 – April 14, 1911) was an American
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
, a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, and the
12th
12 (twelve) is the natural number following 11 and preceding 13. Twelve is a superior highly composite number, divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6.
It is the number of years required for an orbital period of Jupiter. It is central to many systems ...
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
of
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
from 1909 to 1910. A native of
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, Benson also served as educator, a land office clerk, and was twice elected as
Oregon Secretary of State
The secretary of state of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the governor. The duties of the office are auditor of public accounts, ch ...
. From this position he became governor after sitting governor
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain Sr. (January 1, 1854 – July 9, 1928) was an American attorney, politician, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and member of the Democratic Party, Chamberlain's political achievements included appoi ...
resigned to become a
United States senator
The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...
.
Early life
Benson was born in
San Jose, California
San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...
, in 1858 to a minister sent west by the
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...
Episcopal Church. His father, Henry Clarke Benson, moved the family to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, to become
editor
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...
of the ''Pacific Christian Accord'' in 1864. His mother was Matilda Williamson Benson, and his older brother Henry Landin Benson was speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and served on the
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.California Wesleyan College (now University of the Pacific in
Stockton, California
Stockton is a city in and the county seat of San Joaquin County, California, San Joaquin County in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. Stockton was founded by Carlos Maria Weber in 1849 after he acquir ...
), where he earned an A.B. in 1877, and an A.M. degree in 1882. After college, he returned to Oregon, and began a career in education. In 1880, he became the administrator of the Umpqua Academy in
Wilbur, Oregon
Wilbur is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. Wilbur is located along Interstate 5 and Oregon Route 99 north of Winchester
Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, Eng ...
, a Methodist school that is now closed. Benson was elected Superintendent of Douglas County Schools in 1882, but resigned the next year to become president of the now defunct
Normal School
A normal school or normal college is an institution created to Teacher education, train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high s ...
in
Drain
Drain may refer to:
Objects and processes
* Drain (plumbing), a fixture that provides an exit-point for waste water or for water that is to be re-circulated on the side of a road
* Drain (surgery), a tube used to remove pus or other fluids from ...
. In 1883, Benson married Harriet Ruth Benjamin, and they had two sons. Benson served as the clerk of the U.S. Land Office in Roseburg from 1894 to 1896.
Benson was elected Douglas County Clerk in 1892, and was re-elected in 1896. That year he passed the state bar exam, and he began practicing law in Roseburg in 1898.
Secretary of State and Governorship
In 1906, Benson ran for Secretary of State as a Republican, and was elected. Governor
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain Sr. (January 1, 1854 – July 9, 1928) was an American attorney, politician, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and member of the Democratic Party, Chamberlain's political achievements included appoi ...
was elected to the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
halfway through his term in 1909 and resigned as governor. As Secretary of State, Frank Benson was next in the gubernatorial line of succession, and was sworn into office March 1, 1909. (There is no Lieutenant Governor position under the State of Oregon's constitution.)
Benson did not resign as Secretary of State, and held both positions in violation of the Oregon Constitution. (Previously, Governor
Stephen F. Chadwick
Stephen Fowler Chadwick (December 25, 1825 – January 15, 1895) was an American Democratic politician
succeeded to the office of governor under similar circumstances in 1877, and held both offices simultaneously in contravention of state law.) Benson collected pay for both offices.
As governor, Benson initiated little despite holding the state's two most powerful offices. He did call for a special session of the
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the Ho ...
to fund the operation of certain state institutions, including the state's prison, reform school,
mental hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental health hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, are hospitals or wards specializing in the treatment of severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, dissociati ...
,
school for the blind
A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compulsor ...
, and veteran's home. The legislation had been overlooked in the previous (25th Biennial) Session. Benson attempted to resolve a boundary dispute with neighboring
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
.
Benson was ill when he assumed the office of governor, but his health appeared to improve. In 1910 he traveled to California for further treatment. On June 15, 1910, Benson telephoned his private secretary, and transferred the Governor's powers to
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the statewide legislature for the US state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the state Sena ...
President
Jay Bowerman
Jay Bowerman (August 15, 1876 – October 25, 1957) was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the 13th Governor of Oregon, for the final few months of the term of Frank Benson, who retired due to illness.
Early life
Bo ...
until he could return to Salem, which he anticipated would be by July 20, 1910. Bowerman was sworn in as Acting Governor on June 16, 1910. However, Benson did not return and remained in California till his death. Bowerman completed the term as governor. In the fall 1910 election, Benson did not seek a full term of office as governor, but he was elected to another term as Secretary of State. His health failed in
Redlands, California
Redlands ( ) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 census. The city is located approximately west of Palm Springs and east of Lo ...