Benjamin A. Smith

Benjamin Atwood Smith (born March 16, 1916 in Gloucester , Massachusetts , † September 6, 1991 ibid) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Massachusetts in the US Senate .

Life

After attending Gloucester public schools and the Dummer Academy , Smith graduated from Harvard University in 1939 . There he shared a room with the future US President John F. Kennedy . He served in the US Navy during World War II and was deployed in the Pacific from 1941 to 1945 .

Smith embarked on a career as a businessman on his return to the United States. He became president of the United Fisheries Company and other companies. He was politically active for the first time between 1954 and 1955 as mayor of his hometown Gloucester. After his college friend Kennedy was elected President of the United States on November 8, 1960, this suggested to the Governor of Massachusetts, Foster Furcolo , to appoint Smith as his successor as Senator. Furcolo followed this advice.

After taking office on December 27, 1960, many critics saw Benjamin Smith as a placeholder for the president's brother, Edward Kennedy . He was out of the question as an immediate successor because he was not yet 30 years old and, according to the constitution, was not allowed to belong to the Senate. In early November 1962, a by-election was held, in which Smith did not run. Edward Kennedy won the election and replaced him as Senator on November 6th.

Smith then held no public office and died in Gloucester in 1991.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Smith, Benjamin A.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Smith, Benjamin Atwood (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician (Democratic Party)
DATE OF BIRTH	March 16, 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH	Gloucester , Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH	September 6, 1991
Place of death	Gloucester , Massachusetts