Benjamin Franklin Butler

Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American politician and political general during the American Civil War. He was born in New Hampshire in 1818. He became a lawyer in 1840. During the Civil War, he was one of the first generals in the Union Army. He also didn't return escaped slaves to their masters, claiming that they were Contraband of War. After the war, he was governor of Massachusetts from January 1883 to January 1884. He died in 1893.

Benjamin Franklin Butler Media

• Baltimore Riot 1861.jpg

  Engraving depicting the Baltimore riot of 1861

• Fort Monroe Map.jpg

  Map of Fort Monroe, 1862

• Battle of Big Bethel.png

  Contemporary drawing of military movements in the Battle of Big Bethel, by Alfred Waud

• General Benjamin Butler Brady-Handy.jpg

  Portrait of Butler in his Union Army uniform, Brady-Handy 1862–1865

• General Butler after the battle of September 29, 1864, sketched by William Waud (Harper's Weekly, October 22, 1864).jpg

  General Butler after the battle of September 29, 1864, sketched by William Waud (Harper's Weekly, October 22, 1864)

• Impeachment Committee, Hon. George S. Boutwell, Mass., Gen. John A. Logan, Hon. Thomas Williams, Pa., Hon. James F.... - NARA - 528423 (1).jpg

  Johnson impeachment managersSeated L-R: Butler, Thaddeus Stevens, Thomas Williams, John Bingham;Standing L-R: James F. Wilson, George S. Boutwell, John A. Logan

• Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, Delivering the Opening Speech, As One of the Managers of Impeachment, At the Impeachment Trial, In the Senate Chamber, Washington, D.C. (1).png

  Illustration of Butler (left) delivering the opening remarks of the prosecution during the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson

• Butler's memorial at the Hildreth family cemetery in Lowell, Massachusetts