Chittenden

BENJAMIN, Samuel Greene Wheeler

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 117

Samuel Greene Wheeler BENJAMIN, author, artist and diplomat, Burlington 
[Chittenden County, Vermont], was born 13 February 1837 in Argos, Greece, son 
of Nathan B. (American missionary) and Mary Gladding (WHEELER) BENJAMIN 
(poetical writer), and great grandson of Captain Nathan BENJAMIN and Captain 
Charles SEYMOUR, who served in the American Revolution. Studied at home, and 
at English College, Smyrna, Turkey; graduated Williams College 1859. Author 
of "Sunny Side of Shadow." Assistant librarian New York State Library, 
1861-1864; sent two companies of cavalry to the Civil War; served in military 
hospitals; read law, studied art; at sea several years mastering sailing 
ships; art editor, American department, "Magazine of Art," also New York 
Mail; contributor to magazines. Also marine painter and illustrator. Sent 
Crimean War marine drawings to London Illustrated News, 1854; opened studio 
in Boston as artist in oil and water colors, 1870; honorable mention for 
painting , Boston, exhibit of 1881; also for Persian products in State 
Department Group, New Orleans Exposition.

In 1863 he [Samuel Greene Wheeler BENJAMIN] married Clara STOWELL of 
Brookfield [Worcester County], Massachusetts, who died in 1880. In 1882 he 
[Samuel Greene Wheeler BENJAMIN] married Fannie Nichols WEED of Alton, 
[Madison County] Illinois. Mr. BENJAMIN is a Republican; first U. S. 
minister to Persia, 1883-1885; president Republican Club, Richmond County, 
New York, 1892. Vice president Society American Authors; member Sons of 
Revolution, Phi Beta Kappa, Society of Colonial Wars, Boston Art Club, 
American Free Art League, National Geographic Society, and American Forestry 
Association. Author "Constantinople, Isle of Pearls, and Other Poems" 1861; 
"Ode on the Death of Abraham Lincoln" 1865; "The Turk and the Greek" 1867; 
"Tom Roper, a Yarn for Boys" 1868; "The Choice of Paris, a Romance of the 
Troad" 1870; "Advice of Father to Son" (translation from Latin poem) 1871; 
"What is Art?" 1877; "The Atlantic Islands," published in London, 1878; "Art 
in America" 1879; "Our American Artists," 2nd series, 1880; "The 
Multitudinous Seas" 1879; "The World's Paradises" 1879; "Troy, its Legend, 
Literature and Topography" 1881; "A Group of Etchers" 1883; "Cruise of the 
Alice May" 1884; "Persia and the Persians" 1886; "The Story of Persia" 
(translated into East Indian dialects and published in Bombay), 1887; "Sea 
Spray" 1888.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly