Benjamin G. Humphreys II

Benjamin Grubb Humphreys II was an American lawyer and politician who served ten consecutive terms as a United States [House of Representatives|U.S. representative] from Mississippi from 1903 to 1923.
He was known by his constituents as "Our Ben."

Early life

Benjamin Grubb Humphreys II was born on August 17, 1865, in Claiborne County, Mississippi. His father was Benjamin G. Humphreys.
Humphreys attended the public schools at Lexington, Mississippi, and the University of [Mississippi at Oxford] where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1891 and commenced practice in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Career

Humphreys served as the superintendent of education for Leflore County 1892–1896. He served as district attorney for the fourth district of Mississippi 1895–1903.

Spanish-American War

He raised a company in April 1898 for service in the Spanish–American War and was its first lieutenant, serving under Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in Florida during the entire war.

Congress

Humphreys was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-eighth and to the ten succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1903, until his death. He served as chairman of the Committee on Territories, Committee on Flood Control. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1920.

Death

Humphreys died in Greenville, Mississippi, October 16, 1923. He was interred in Greenville Cemetery.