Sydenham Benoni Alexander
Encyclopedia
Sydenham Benoni Alexander (8 December 1840 – 14 June 1921) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman
from North Carolina
between 1891 and 1895.
Alexander, born near Charlotte, North Carolina
in 1840, attended preparatory schools in Rocky River
and Wadesboro
and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1860.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War
in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in the First Regiment, North Carolina Volunteer Infantry. He was elected captain of Company K, Forty-second North Carolina Regiment, in June 1862. He detached from his company in 1864 and served as inspector general on the staff of Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke,
After the Civil War, Alexander was a member of the North Carolina Senate
in 1879, 1883, 1885, 1887, where he was instrumental in the establishment of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University
; Alexander served on its board of trustees), and was president of the North Carolina Railroad
. He became the first president of the North Carolina Farmers Alliance around 1887. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of North Carolina
in 1888. After his defeat at the state convention by Daniel Gould Fowle
, Alexander was offered the nomination for Lieutenant Governor
but declined.
A Democrat, Alexander was elected to the U.S. House in 1890 and served in the 52nd
and 53rd
Congresses. He did not run for a third term in 1894, but retired to his "Enderly Plantation" estate in Mecklenburg County
. He served one additional term in the North Carolina Senate in 1901.
Alexander finally moved to Charlotte in 1906 and died there in 1921; he is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1891 and 1895.
Alexander, born near Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
in 1840, attended preparatory schools in Rocky River
Rocky River (North Carolina)
The Rocky River is a river in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. It begins in Iredell County near Mooresville and flows south into Cabarrus County, where it is the principal waterway in the county. The river continues southeastward to form the line between Stanly, Union, and Anson counties...
and Wadesboro
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,780 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anson County.-Geography:Wadesboro is located at ....
and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1860.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private in the First Regiment, North Carolina Volunteer Infantry. He was elected captain of Company K, Forty-second North Carolina Regiment, in June 1862. He detached from his company in 1864 and served as inspector general on the staff of Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke,
After the Civil War, Alexander was a member of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
in 1879, 1883, 1885, 1887, where he was instrumental in the establishment of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
; Alexander served on its board of trustees), and was president of the North Carolina Railroad
North Carolina Railroad
The North Carolina Railroad is a state-owned rail corridor extending from Morehead City, North Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina. The railroad carries over seventy freight trains and eight passenger trains daily...
. He became the first president of the North Carolina Farmers Alliance around 1887. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
in 1888. After his defeat at the state convention by Daniel Gould Fowle
Daniel Gould Fowle
Daniel Gould Fowle was the 46th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1889 until his death in 1891. He had served as a state superior court judge from 1865 to 1867....
, Alexander was offered the nomination for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
but declined.
A Democrat, Alexander was elected to the U.S. House in 1890 and served in the 52nd
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and 53rd
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
Congresses. He did not run for a third term in 1894, but retired to his "Enderly Plantation" estate in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
. He served one additional term in the North Carolina Senate in 1901.
Alexander finally moved to Charlotte in 1906 and died there in 1921; he is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.