Ralph Benson (politician)

Ralph Benson
Member of Parliament for Stafford
In office
7 October 1812 – 19 June 1818
In office
10 June 1826 – 9 August 1830
Personal details
Born1773 (1773)
Died23 October 1845(1845-10-23) (aged 71–72)
PartyTory
ParentMoses Benson (father)

Ralph Benson (1773 – 23 October 1845) was a British politician.[1]

Biography

Benson was one the first mixed-race Members of Parliament of the Parliament of Great Britain.[2] His father Moses Benson was a British West Indies merchant who was involved in the Liverpool slave trade.[2] His mother Judith Powell was a freed slave.[3] She was classified as mulatto and was the mother of Moses Bensons four children.[4] He sat for the constituency of Stafford.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Mr Ralph Benson (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  2. ^ a b "Summary of Individual | Legacies of British Slavery". www.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  3. ^ "Book of Common Prayer—from the library of Liverpool slave trader Moses Benson". Black Dog Rare Books. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  4. ^ "Anthony Gambrill | Liverpool the metropolis of slavery". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2018-12-02. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  5. ^ https://d6.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/benson-ralph-1773-1845

See also