Henry Washington Benham

1813–1884 (age 71)

Military Engineer/General

Biography

Henry Washington Benham, born in 1813, graduated from West Point and devoted his career to the Army Corps of Engineers, overseeing fortifications, bridges, and rivers that served the young republic.

From the Mexican War through the Civil War he labored to keep the nation's transportation and defenses sound, leaving a record of technical skill and unwavering professionalism.