Benjamin Sterling Turner

Born: March 17, 1825 in Weldon, North Carolina

Died: March 21, 1894 in Selma, Alabama

United States Representative, 1871–1873

Republican from Alabama

• Turner was the first African American to represent Alabama in the U.S. House of Representatives. 
• While still a slave, Turner acquired considerable wealth as a livery stable owner and merchant. Turner married a young Black slave named Independence. Some records indicate that the couple had a son named Osceola. Tragically, the marriage came to a heartbreaking end when a white man purchased Turner's wife for his mistress. Turner never married again. 
• Turner had a reputation of being a moderate because he favored both an expansion of civil rights for African Americans as well as universal amnesty for former Confederates.
• After Turner lost reelection, he returned to Selma but was never able to revive his political career. During an economic recession in 1877, Turner lost his business. He returned to farming but was again unsuccessful in supporting his family. 
• He died impoverished and largely forgotten on March 21, 1894. He had just turned 69.

Benjamin Sterling Turner

1899

Print Collection Portrait File

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Division

NYPL Digital Collections: B.S. Turner [signature]. Hon. Benjamin S. Tuner, representative from Alabama.