Frank Williamson Benson (20 March 1858-14 April 1911) was the Republican Governor of Oregon from 1 March 1909 to 17 June 1910, succeeding George Earle Chamberlain and preceding Jay Bowerman.
Biography[]
Frank Williamson Benson was born in San Jose, California in 1858, the son of a Methodist minister and the brother of Henry L. Benson. He was raised in Portland, Oregon, where he became a school superintendent, clerk of the U.S. Land Office in Roseburg from 1894 to 1896, and Douglas County Clerk from 1892 to 1900. He opened up a legal practice in Roseburg in 1898, and he served as Secretary of State of Oregon from 1907 to 1911 and as acting Governor from 1909 to 1910 after George Earle Chamberlain was elected to the US Senate. He died in office in 1911.