Benjamin Franklin Washington
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Franklin Washington (April 7, 1820 – January 22, 1872) was a relative of George Washington
. He was involved in a duel
with C. A. Washburn
over articles printed in the San Francisco Herald
.
" plantation
near Charles Town
, Virginia
(now West Virginia
) and was the fifth child and third son of John Thornton Augustine Washington
with his first wife Elizabeth Conrad Bedinger. Washington's great-grandfather, Samuel Washington
, was a younger brother of George Washington
.
Washington married Georgianna Hite Ransom on October 22, 1845 in Jefferson County, Virginia
(now West Virginia). He studied law but went west to California
in the 1849 Gold Rush
as the president of the Charlestown Company.
He was coeditor of the Sacramento Democratic State Journal, along with Vincent Geiger.
On October 7, 1863, the Democratic Press was established in San Francisco, and by June 12, 1865, it became the Evening Examiner, with William S. Moss as publisher and B. F. Washington as editor. For several years William S. Moss, Phil Roach and George Pen Johnston were its owners. Until it was bought by Senator Hearst in the 1880s, the paper had been a "highly chaste and non-sensation journal". After Senator Hearst's death the paper went to his son, William R. Hearst.
B.F. Washington died January 22, 1872 in San Francisco, California.
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. He was involved in a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
with C. A. Washburn
Charles Ames Washburn
Charles Ames Washburn , also known as C. A. Washburn, was born in Livermore, Maine. He was the son of Israel Washburn Sr.; nephew of Reuel Washburn; brother of Israel, Jr., Elihu Benjamin, Cadwallader Colden and William Drew...
over articles printed in the San Francisco Herald
San Francisco Herald
The San Francisco Herald is a newsletter/website in San Francisco, California, founded by Gene Mahoney. It was a newspaper from its debut in July 1998 until January 2008. As the newspaper/magazine industry rapidly crumbled due to declining advertising and readership, the Herald became a newsletter,...
.
Personal life
Washington was born on April 7, 1820 at "Cedar LawnCedar Lawn
Cedar Lawn, also known as Berry Hill and Poplar Hill, is one of several houses built near Charles Town, West Virginia for members of the Washington family. Cedar Lawn was built in 1825 for John Thornton Augustine Washington, George Washington's grand-nephew. The property was originally part of...
" plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
near Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) and was the fifth child and third son of John Thornton Augustine Washington
John Thornton Augustine Washington
John Thornton Augustine Washington was a prominent Virginia landowner, farmer, and statesman and a member of the Washington family...
with his first wife Elizabeth Conrad Bedinger. Washington's great-grandfather, Samuel Washington
Samuel Washington
Samuel Washington was a brother of United States President George Washington. He was born on November 16, 1734 at Pope's Creek, Wakefield, Westmoreland County, Virginia....
, was a younger brother of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
Washington married Georgianna Hite Ransom on October 22, 1845 in Jefferson County, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(now West Virginia). He studied law but went west to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the 1849 Gold Rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
as the president of the Charlestown Company.
He was coeditor of the Sacramento Democratic State Journal, along with Vincent Geiger.
On October 7, 1863, the Democratic Press was established in San Francisco, and by June 12, 1865, it became the Evening Examiner, with William S. Moss as publisher and B. F. Washington as editor. For several years William S. Moss, Phil Roach and George Pen Johnston were its owners. Until it was bought by Senator Hearst in the 1880s, the paper had been a "highly chaste and non-sensation journal". After Senator Hearst's death the paper went to his son, William R. Hearst.
B.F. Washington died January 22, 1872 in San Francisco, California.