Benjamin Brown French

Biography

Benjamin Brown French spent decades in the nation’s capital as a trusted government official, serving as Commissioner of Public Buildings and stewarding the daily operations of Congress with a quiet dignity that earned him respect across party lines. His work placed him close to many defining moments of the mid-19th century and allowed him to support the steady functioning of the federal government through times of debate and war.

Beyond his administrative duties, French was a faithful chronicler of the capital, keeping journals, publishing essays, and capturing the personal and political dramas of his era so that future historians could glean insight into the people and events he encountered. He is remembered at Congressional Cemetery for the thoughtful witness he offered to his country.