Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-16
Judah Peter Benjamin, Q. @.

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The announcement from England that
the great eX-Confederate, Judah p. Ben
jamin, had ceased the practice of law in
London on account of advancing age and
i'll health, recalls many interesting Incl
dents in his wonderful career. The story
of his life reads like a romance. MIR. Ben
Jamin was born in SantO Domingo West
Indies }, of Jewish parents, in 1912. and in
1916 his family settled in Savannah, Ga.
Judah entered Yale College, but left it in
1927, without graduating, and within a
few years thereafter became a lawyer in
New Orleans. He taught school for a while.
married one of his pupils, and became
a leader of his profession in Louisiana.
From 1858 to 1861 he was United States
Senator. Mr.. Benjamin was regarded for
several years as one of the leaders of the
Southern wing of the Democratic party,
though he had previously been a Whig,
and when the question of secession di-
vided the people, he withdrew from the
Senate and, with his cOadjutOr, John Sill
dell, he promoted the great insurrectiOn.
He became Attorney General of the South
ern COnfederacy, acting Secretary of War
and Secretary of State. After the war he
went to London, where he has since prac-
ticed his profession with great success.
In 1866 he published in England GA Trea-
tise ON the Law of Sale of Personal Prop
erty," which IS regarded as a standard
authority. His standing was such at the
English bar that he was made Queens
Counsel for Lancaster. Mr.. Benjamin's
parents were originally from Jamaica.
His father died when Judah was but 10,
and he was compelled to leave college be-
fore graduating in order to earn a liveli-
hood. When he reached New Orleans in
1881, $25 was his total fortune. He enter
ed nOtary's office, and at the same time
obtained situation as teacher in a school;
giving eight hours a day to his duties as
teacher, and eight to rest and recreation;
he devoted the remainder to legal studies.
Among his pupils was Miss ST. Martin,
the lady whom he afterwards married. 1t
is said that in 1S49 President Taylor offer
ed him the office of Attorney General of
clined it. Always disposed to en-
gage in speculations, he embarked
in sugar-planting, on which subject he
published several pamphlets, but never
made money by his operations in this line.
In the Senate, previous to secession, there
was sharp personal controversy between
him and Jefferson Davis, which was
about to cause duel, when Mr.. Davis
apologiZed on the floor of the Senate
for the harsh language he had used, too
great facility in which he attributed to
his military education. Mr.. Benjamin
was so decided an advocate of the legal
claims of slavery, that he drew from Mr..
Wade, of Ohio, on one occasion, the witty
charge that he was 'Ea Hebrew with
Egyptian principles" In 1860 he an.
nOunced in Congress his adhesion to the
Southern cause in a speech Of much power
and effectiveness, in which he declared
that the South could never be subdued.
On the downfall of the Southern cause
Mr.. Benjamin fed from Richmond in dis
guise, gained the FlOridian coast, where
he paid some men $10-all the money he
had in the world-tO convey him to an
English steamer. He was kindly received
by the Britishers, and. treated as a distin-
guished guest throughout the voyage,
Reaching London in 1865, we believe, he
speedily obtained employment of
journalistic nature until the
preliminaries to his admission
to the English bar had been COM
pleted, These arranged, he opened a law
office, and plenty of business came to him
at once, his distinguished abilities being
known and recognized in influential quar-
ters, His career from that time to this
has been one of uneXampled success, both
professionally and financially. AT the age
of II he now retires from active practice
rich in worldly goods, hOnored in his ster.
ling worth and vigor of character, famous
in ability and success, and unique in the
romance and vicissitude of his career,