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{{short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
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|term_end1 = March 4, 1885
|term_end1 = March 4, 1885
|predecessor1 = [[James B. Eustis]]
|predecessor1 = [[James B. Eustis]]
|successor1 = [[James B. Eustis]]
|successor1 = James B. Eustis
|office2 = Member of the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]]
|office2 = Member of the [[Louisiana House of Representatives]]
|term2 = 1865-1868<br>1876-1879
|term2 = 1865-1868<br/>1876-1879
|birth_date = {{birth date|1834|7|19}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1834|7|19}}
|birth_place = [[Williamsport, Kentucky]]
|birth_place = [[Williamsport, Kentucky]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1911|12|21|1834|7|19}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1911|12|21|1834|7|19}}
|death_place = [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]
|death_place = [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], U.S.
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|religion=Judaism
| allegiance={{flag|Confederate States of America}}
| allegiance={{flag|Confederate States of America}}
| branch={{army|CSA}}
| branch={{army|CSA}}
| serviceyears= 1861-1865
| serviceyears= 1862-1865
| rank= [[File:Confederate_States_of_America_Major.png|15px]] [[Major (United States)|Major]]
| rank= [[File:Confederate_States_of_America_Major.png|15px]] [[Major (United States)|Major]]
| battles=[[American Civil War]]
| battles=[[American Civil War]]
}}
}}

'''Benjamin Franklin Jonas''' (July 19, 1834{{spaced ndash}}December 21, 1911) was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Louisiana]] and an officer in the [[Confederate States Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. He was the third [[Judaism|Jew]] to serve in the Senate.
'''Benjamin Franklin Jonas''' (July 19, 1834{{spaced ndash}}December 21, 1911) was an American politician who was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Louisiana]] and an officer in the [[Confederate States Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. He was the third [[Judaism|Jew]] to serve in the Senate. Jonas was also the last Jewish Senator from the [[Deep South]] until [[Jon Ossoff]] won his seat [[2020-21 United States Senate election in Georgia|in Georgia in 2021]].


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
He was born in Williamsport, [[Grant County, Kentucky]] to [[Abraham Jonas (politician)|Abraham Jonas]] (1801–64), a merchant and lawyer, and Louisa Block. As a boy, he moved with his parents to [[Quincy, Illinois]], where his father became a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Illinois General Assembly|state legislator]] and [[United States Postal Service|postmaster]], and was acquainted with [[Abraham Lincoln]]. (In 1864, Lincoln appointed the widowed Mrs. Jonas postmaster in succession to her late husband.)
He was born in [[Williamsport, Kentucky|Williamsport]], [[Grant County, Kentucky]] to [[Abraham Jonas (politician)|Abraham Jonas]] (1801–1864), a merchant and lawyer, and Louisa Block. As a boy, he moved with his parents to [[Quincy, Illinois]], where his father became a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Illinois General Assembly|state legislator]] and [[United States Postal Service|postmaster]], and was acquainted with [[Abraham Lincoln]]. (In 1864, Lincoln appointed the widowed Mrs. Jonas postmaster in succession to her late husband.)


Benjamin attended the public schools in Quincy. In 1853, he moved to [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]; his maternal uncle, Abraham Block, was well known there, being an important figure in the nearby [[Red River of the South|Red River]] settlements. He studied law at the University of Louisiana (now [[Tulane University]]). In 1855, he graduated, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in New Orleans.
Benjamin attended the public schools in Quincy. In 1853, he moved to [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]; his maternal uncle, Abraham Block, was well known there, being an important figure in the nearby [[Red River of the South|Red River]] settlements. He studied law at the University of Louisiana (now [[Tulane University]]). In 1855, he graduated, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in New Orleans.


Despite his family's strong Republican connections, Benjamin Jonas cast his lot with the South in the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in the [[Confederate States Army]]. He was a member of Fenner's Battery, and Adjutant of a Battalion of Artillery in
Despite his family's strong Republican connections, Benjamin Jonas cast his lot with the South in the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in the [[Confederate States Army]]. He was a member of Fenner's Battery, and Adjutant of a Battalion of Artillery in
Hood's Corps in the Army of Tennesse.<ref name="Louisiana Bar Association" /> He served till the end of the war, rising to the rank of [[Major (United States)|major]].
Hood's Corps in the Army of Tennessee.<ref name="Louisiana Bar Association" /> He served till the end of the war, rising to the rank of [[Major (United States)|major]].


After the war, he returned to New Orleans and became active in state politics as a Democrat. In 1865, he was elected to the [[Louisiana House of Representatives|state House of Representatives]], and served until 1868.
After the war, he returned to New Orleans and became active in state politics as a Democrat. In 1865, he was elected to the [[Louisiana House of Representatives|state House of Representatives]], and served until 1868.
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In 1885, he was appointed Collector of the port of New Orleans, serving until 1889. He then resumed the practice of law.
In 1885, he was appointed Collector of the port of New Orleans, serving until 1889. He then resumed the practice of law.


Jonas died in New Orleans on December 21, 1911, and was buried in Dispersed of Judah Cemetery.
Jonas died in New Orleans on December 21, 1911, and was buried in Dispersed of Judah Cemetery (listed in [[Historic Cemeteries of New Orleans]]).


He was the second Jewish U.S. Senator from Louisiana, the first having been [[Judah P. Benjamin]] (1853–1861), and the third Jewish Senator overall, the others being Benjamin and [[David Levy Yulee]] of [[Florida]] (1845–1851, 1855–1861). However, both Yulee and Benjamin married [[Christianity|Christian]] wives, and did not openly practice Judaism afterward.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/pss/4233263 Notes and Documents: Winston de Ville, "The Marriage Contract of Judah P. Benjamin and Natalie St. Martin"], ''Louisiana History'', Vol. 37, No. 1, Winter, 1996, at JSTOR, accessed July 24, 2011; {{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/yulee.html |title=Jewish Virtual Library: David Levy Yulee |accessdate=May 15, 2009}}</ref> Jonas was the first practicing Jew in the Senate.
He was the second Jewish U.S. Senator from Louisiana, the first having been [[Judah P. Benjamin]] (1853–1861), and the third Jewish Senator overall, the others being Benjamin and [[David Levy Yulee]] of [[Florida]] (1845–1851, 1855–1861). However, both Yulee and Benjamin married [[Christianity|Christian]] wives, and did not openly practice Judaism afterward.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/pss/4233263 Notes and Documents: Winston de Ville, "The Marriage Contract of Judah P. Benjamin and Natalie St. Martin"], ''Louisiana History'', Vol. 37, No. 1, Winter, 1996, at JSTOR, accessed July 24, 2011; {{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/yulee.html |title=Jewish Virtual Library: David Levy Yulee |accessdate=May 15, 2009}}</ref> Jonas was the first practicing Jew in the Senate. Jonas was also the first [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi Jew]] in the Senate; while the two previous Jewish senators were of [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardic]] descent, as were the majority of U.S. Jews at the time. He was a member of [[The Boston Club]] of New Orleans.<ref>https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu09362126&seq=330</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==Sources==
==Sources==
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000204 Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress]
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000204 Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress]
* {{ Cite web | last = Rechcigl | first = Miloslav Jr | title = Early Jewish Immigrants in America From the Czech Historic Lands and Slovakia | publisher = JewishGen | url = http://www.jewishgen.org/austriaczech/early_immig.html | accessdate = August 21, 2010 }}
* {{ Cite web
| last = Rechcigl
| first = Miloslav jr
| title = Early Jewish Immigrants in America From the Czech Historic Lands and Slovakia
| publisher = JewishGen
| url = http://www.jewishgen.org/austriaczech/early_immig.html
| accessdate = August 21, 2010 }}


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
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|years=1879–1885}}
|years=1879–1885}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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{{USSenLA}}


⚫
{{USSenLA}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:1834 births]]
[[Category:1834 births]]
[[Category:1911 deaths]]
[[Category:1911 deaths]]
[[Category:American Jews in the military]]
[[Category:Jewish American military personnel]]
[[Category:American people of English-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of English-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Confederate States Army officers]]
[[Category:Confederate States Army officers]]
[[Category:People of Louisiana in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:People of Louisiana in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Jewish American politicians]]
[[Category:Jewish United States senators]]
[[Category:Jewish United States Senators]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States Senators]]
⚫
[[Category:Louisiana Democrats]]
[[Category:Jewish Confederates]]
[[Category:Jewish Confederates]]
[[Category:19th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:19th-century American legislators]]
[[Category:Jewish American state legislators in Louisiana]]
⚫
[[Category:19th-century Louisiana politicians]]

Latest revision as of 17:44, 19 February 2024

Benjamin F. Jonas
United States Senator
from Louisiana
In office
March 4, 1879 – March 4, 1885
Preceded byJames B. Eustis
Succeeded byJames B. Eustis
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office
1865-1868
1876-1879
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Franklin Jonas

(1834-07-19)July 19, 1834
Williamsport, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedDecember 21, 1911(1911-12-21) (aged 77)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Branch/service Confederate States Army
Years of service1862-1865
Rank Major
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Benjamin Franklin Jonas (July 19, 1834 – December 21, 1911) was an American politician who was a Democratic U.S. Senator from Louisiana and an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was the third Jew to serve in the Senate. Jonas was also the last Jewish Senator from the Deep South until Jon Ossoff won his seat in Georgia in 2021.

Life and career

[edit]

He was born in Williamsport, Grant County, Kentucky to Abraham Jonas (1801–1864), a merchant and lawyer, and Louisa Block. As a boy, he moved with his parents to Quincy, Illinois, where his father became a Republican state legislator and postmaster, and was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln. (In 1864, Lincoln appointed the widowed Mrs. Jonas postmaster in succession to her late husband.)

Benjamin attended the public schools in Quincy. In 1853, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana; his maternal uncle, Abraham Block, was well known there, being an important figure in the nearby Red River settlements. He studied law at the University of Louisiana (now Tulane University). In 1855, he graduated, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in New Orleans.

Despite his family's strong Republican connections, Benjamin Jonas cast his lot with the South in the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He was a member of Fenner's Battery, and Adjutant of a Battalion of Artillery in Hood's Corps in the Army of Tennessee.[1] He served till the end of the war, rising to the rank of major.

After the war, he returned to New Orleans and became active in state politics as a Democrat. In 1865, he was elected to the state House of Representatives, and served until 1868.

In 1872, he was elected to the State Senate, but declined to take the seat. In 1875, he was appointed city attorney of New Orleans, and served until 1879. He was again elected state Representative in 1876.

In 1879, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and served from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1885. In the 46th Congress, he was chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. He sought another term in 1884, but was not re-elected.

In 1885, he was appointed Collector of the port of New Orleans, serving until 1889. He then resumed the practice of law.

Jonas died in New Orleans on December 21, 1911, and was buried in Dispersed of Judah Cemetery (listed in Historic Cemeteries of New Orleans).

He was the second Jewish U.S. Senator from Louisiana, the first having been Judah P. Benjamin (1853–1861), and the third Jewish Senator overall, the others being Benjamin and David Levy Yulee of Florida (1845–1851, 1855–1861). However, both Yulee and Benjamin married Christian wives, and did not openly practice Judaism afterward.[2] Jonas was the first practicing Jew in the Senate. Jonas was also the first Ashkenazi Jew in the Senate; while the two previous Jewish senators were of Sephardic descent, as were the majority of U.S. Jews at the time. He was a member of The Boston Club of New Orleans.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Report of the Louisiana Bar Association for 1912-1913 (Volume 14 ed.). New Orleans: Louisiana Bar Association. 1913. p. 401.
  2. ^ Notes and Documents: Winston de Ville, "The Marriage Contract of Judah P. Benjamin and Natalie St. Martin", Louisiana History, Vol. 37, No. 1, Winter, 1996, at JSTOR, accessed July 24, 2011; "Jewish Virtual Library: David Levy Yulee". Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  3. ^ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu09362126&seq=330

Sources

[edit]
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Louisiana
1879–1885
Served alongside: William P. Kellogg, Randall L. Gibson 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benjamin_F._Jonas&oldid=1208957673"