Benjamin Franklin Butler

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Benjamin Franklin Butler

U.S.A.

Party Democrat
Latest Campaign State Governor
Date of Birth November 5, 1818
Date of Death Jan. 11, 1893 (Age: 74)
Overall Community Sentiment: Neutral

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Overview
Community
Analysis
Personal Background

Benjamin Franklin Butler graduated from Waterville College and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar. He established a reputation as a criminal defense lawyer, specializing in bankruptcy law, and later expanded his business interests. He held various political positions, including serving in the state legislature and state senate, and he ran for governor. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army. Post-war, he pursued business and charitable endeavors, including founding cooperative ventures for African Americans and sponsoring scholarships. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he advocated for civil rights and opposed President Andrew Johnson.

Political Ideas

Benjamin Franklin Butler's political identity is marked by a unique blend of progressive economic policies and conservative social stances. He championed inflationary monetary policy and the use of greenbacks while opposing civil service reforms, revealing an ideological agility that defies conventional categorization. His support for an eight-hour workday contrasts sharply with his implementation of a ten-hour workday in his own business, showcasing a pragmatic approach to labor issues. Butler's civil rights advocacy, including support for women's suffrage, sits uneasily with his opposition to the abolition of slavery, highlighting a complex and often contradictory ideological framework.

Campaigns
1883: Massachusetts State Governor

Election History

1883 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

150,228 votes (48.10%)

Loss

Winner: George D. Robinson

1882: Massachusetts State Governor
ELECTED

Election History

Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1882

133,946 votes (52.27%)

Win
1879: Massachusetts State Governor

Election History

1879 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

109,149 votes (44.80%)

Loss

Winner: John Davis Long

1878: Massachusetts State Governor

Election History

1878 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

109,435 votes (42.69%)

Loss

Winner: Thomas Talbot

1873: Massachusetts State Governor

Election History

1873 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

181 votes (0.14%)

Loss

Winner: William B. Washburn

1860: Massachusetts State Governor

Election History

1860 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

6,000 votes (3.54%)

Loss

Winner: John Albion Andrew

1859: Massachusetts State Governor

Election History

1859 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

35,326 votes (32.45%)

Loss

Winner: Nathaniel Prentiss Banks