The New York herald., 1922-08-22
Park Benjamin Dies
of Heart Disease at
His Country Home
Father of Mrs. Caruso, Author
and Patent Lawyer, Was
"A Years Old.

Park BENJAMIN, patent lawyer, father
OF Mrs. Enrico caruso, author. and at
one time an editor of the Scientific
American. died yesterday of heart dis
ease at his country home. Shippan
Point. near Stamford. Conn. He was
"A wears old.
Mr.. Benjamin was man of extraor-
dinary versatility with q great diversity
OF interests. He was born in this city
May IL. 1s49. and received his early
education at Trinity School. He early
showed a great liking for military and
naval affairs and obtained an appoint
nent 70 the Naval Academy, being
graduated In 1867 at the age of 10.
He made several cruises with Admiral
Farragut and was promoted to the rank
of Ensign and assigned to the Euro
pean station.
firing of navy life he took up law
and In one year obtained his degree
from the Albany Law School. After
admission to the bar he entered Union
College. taking courses In a wide range
Of scientific topics TO become, as he did.
one of the best patent lawyers in the
country. He was graduated from Union
with the degree of Pa. u. in 1871
Edited Encyclopedia.
Meanwhile he had joined the STAFF of
the Scientific Anerican as an associate
editor. He remained with that publica-
tion for six years and then took charge
of the preparation and editing OF
Appleton's Encyclopedia Of Applied
Mechanics He built up his practice at
the same time, and throughout his career
he never lost his interest either IN the
navy or in the scientific side OF his
work. his peculiar versatility bringing
him in contact with many of the FORE
most scientific men of his time. TWO
OF his books are THE Early History OF
the Naval Academy and THE Eariy
History of Electricity
Mr.. Benjamin was married three
times. His first wife. Miss Helen Camp
bell, died soon after marriage, leaving
no children. His second. who was Miss
Isabel Torrans, was the mother of Park
Benjamin. Jr., of 229 East Sixty-eign'h
street. Mrs Frederick w. Goddard OF
104 East Eighty-first street. and Mrs.
Margery Kenney. After the death of his
second wife, Mr.. Benjamin married Miss
Ida Crane. in 1891.
She was the mother of the Two
younger children, Romeyn p. Benjamin
and Mrs. Caruso.
William Evarts Benjamin. father or
Mrs. Beatrice NJ Pratt, who was mar
ried to Preston Gibson. was brother.
Forgave Daughter Marriage.
Mrs Caruso's marriage, as will be
recalled, was a runaway one and
caused considerable dissension in the
family at the time. Park Benjamin.
however. was not long In forgiving his
daughter. There was also dissension In
the family in 1919 after the marriage
OF Mrs Caruso because of Mr.. Ben
jamin's attempts to legally adopt Miss
Anna NJ. Del Bolchi. She had come
into the family circle some years before
as a governess. and afterward became
a companion to the daughter who after
wards became Mrs. Caruso. She
Travelled with Mr.. and Mrs. Benjamin
in the period before Mrs. Benjamin
went to the Goshen sanitarium. Mr..
Benjamin sought TO adopt her legally,
and a decree whereby she was made
his daughter and an heir was signed In
Wilkes Barre. Pa, in December, 1919.
Mr.. Benjamin was a member of the
Loyal Legion. the University Club and
several other clubs, and OF scientific
societies. He was well known abroad
and was a member OF the British Char
tered Institute of Patent Agents.