Judah Benjamin Historical Figure Nationality: United States; Confederate States (1861-1865); Died in England Religion: Judaism Date of Birth: 1811 Date of Death: 1884 Cause of Death: Natural Causes Occupation: Lawyer, Politician Spouse: Natalie St. Martin Children: Ninette Benjamin Turtledove Appearances: The Guns of the South POD: January 17, 1864 Type of Appearance: Direct Nationality: Confederate States Affiliations: Confederate Party Southern Victory POD: September 10, 1862 Appearance(s): How Few Remain Type of Appearance: Direct Affiliations: Whig Party

Judah Benjamin (1811-1884) was a prominent Confederate politician, and lawyer, who served as a representative in the Louisiana state legislature, as United States Senator for Louisiana, in several Cabinet posts in the government of the Confederate States of America, and as a distinguished barrister and Queen's Counsel in England. He was the second Jew to serve as a U.S. Senator, and, arguably, the first in the Cabinet of a North American government (the legitimacy of the Confederate States government is debatable).

Judah Benjamin in The Guns of the South Edit

Judah Benjamin served as Jefferson Davis's Secretary of State and as one of the Confederacy's representatives to the peace conference that resulted in the end of the Second American Revolution and the recognition of the CS. He was a particularly shrewd man, and was one of the few Confederate leaders privy to the truth about the Rivington Men. For these reasons, Lee asked Benjamin to continue in the position of Secretary of State when Lee was elected.

Benjamin was wounded during the Rivington Men's attack on Robert E. Lee's inauguration as president. The bullet passed through his calf, but did not damage the bone.

Judah Benjamin in Southern Victory Edit

Judah Benjamin was Secretary of State under President Jefferson Davis and served in the Cabinets of many others of the Confederacy's first generation of leaders. He led his country's diplomatic efforts in the War of Secession. During the presidency of James Longstreet, Judah Benjamin was the ambassador to the United States. Despite his best efforts, he was not able to prevent the Second Mexican War of 1881-82.

During the closing days of the Second Mexican War, Benjamin became aware that Senator Wade Hampton III was attempting to recruit support for a coup should Longstreet go through with his plans to end slavery. He also knew that Hampton had unsuccessfully attempted to recruit Thomas Jackson, a fact which surprised Jackson.

Similar themes by other writersEdit

Judah Benjamin is also a major character in Gray Victory by Robert Skimin [1], also an alternate history depiction of a victorious Confederacy. In that scenario, Benjamin is seduced and assasinated by an Abolitionist conspirator, seeking to re-ignite the war between the Confederacy and the US in order to end slavery.

Political offices (OTL)
Preceded by Solomon W. Downs	United States Senator (Class 2) from Louisiana March 4, 1853 – February 4, 1861 Served alongside: Pierre Soulé and John Slidell	Succeeded by John S. Harris
Preceded by Robert M.T. Hunter	Secretary of State for the Confederate States 1862-1865	Succeeded by Office Abolished
Preceded by Leroy Pope Walker	Secretary of War for the Confederate States 1861-1862	Succeeded by George W. Randolph
Preceded by Office instituted	Attorney General for the Confederate States 1861	Succeeded by Thomas Bragg
Political offices (The Guns of the South)
Preceded by Robert M.T. Hunter	Secretary of State for the Confederate States 1862-1869	Succeeded by Incumbent at end of novel

v · d · e The Guns of the South POV Characters Nate Caudell • Robert E. Lee Secondary Characters Mollie Bean • Judah Benjamin • Albert Gallatin Brown • Benjamin Butler • Jefferson Davis • Nathan Bedford Forrest • Ulysses S. Grant • Mary Anna Custis Lee • Abraham Lincoln • Henry Pleasants • Andries Rhoodie • William Seward • Edwin M. Stanton • Alexander Stephens • Louis Wigfall Geography Confederate States Events Second American Revolution

v · d · e Southern Victory Books How Few Remain The Great War (American Front • Walk in Hell • Breakthroughs) American Empire (Blood and Iron • The Center Cannot Hold • The Victorious Opposition) Settling Accounts (Return Engagement • Drive to the East • The Grapple • In at the Death) 1 of 11 Add photo POV Characters Reggie Bartlett • Flora Blackford • Sam Carsten • Samuel Clemens • Anne Colleton • Tom Colleton • George Custer • Frederick Douglass • Jerry Dover • Abner Dowling • Cincinnatus Driver • George Enos • George Enos, Jr. • Sylvia Enos • Jake Featherston • Lucien Galtier • Armstrong Grimes • Thomas Jackson • Roger Kimball • Abraham Lincoln • Cassius Madison • Paul Mantarakis • Chester Martin • Arthur McGregor • Gordon McSweeney • Irving Morrell • Jonathan Moss • Leonard O'Doull • Jefferson Pinkard • Mary McGregor Pomeroy • Michael Pound • Clarence Potter • Stephen Ramsay • Hipolito Rodriguez • Jorge Rodriguez • Theodore Roosevelt • Scipio • Alfred von Schlieffen • Nellie Semphroch • Jeb Stuart Countries United States • Confederate States • Canada • Mexico • Republic of Quebec • Britain • France • Russia • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Ottoman Empire • Japan Events War of Secession • Second Mexican War • Great War • Pacific War • Second Great War Politicial Parties Democratic Party • Socialist Party • Republican Party • Whig Party • Radical Liberal Party • Freedom Party