Sam Benson

Samuel James "Sam" Benson (12 July 1909 – 26 July 1995) was an Australian politician. Born in Adelaide in South Australia, he was educated there at St Peter's College. He became a wool-classer, and then a seaman and Port Phillip pilot. Becoming a ship's master in 1938, he served in the military 1939-55. Having sat on Williamstown Shire Council, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 1962 as the Labor member for Batman, filling the vacancy formed by the death of Alan Bird. In 1966 he was expelled from the Victorian Labor Party, and withdrew from the Caucus to sit as an independent. He was re-elected as an independent in 1966, the first independent elected to the House since Doris Blackburn in 1946. Benson retired in 1969 and became General Secretary of the Merchant Service Guild from 1970 to 1972. He died in 1995.cite web|last=Carr|first=Adam|title=Australian Election Archive|work=Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia|year=2008|accessdate=2008-06-09]

References

Persondata
NAME = Benson, Samuel James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Benson, Sam
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH = 12 July 1909
PLACE OF BIRTH = Adelaide, South Australia
DATE OF DEATH = 26 July 1995
PLACE OF DEATH =