Benjamin Conley (March 1, 1815 – January 10, 1886) was an American politician from the state of Georgia, who served as the 47th Governor of Georgia from October 30, 1871, to January 12, 1872. He also previously served as the mayor of Augusta from 1857 to 1859.[1]

Benjamin Conley
47th Governor of Georgia
In office
October 30, 1871 – January 12, 1872
Preceded byRufus Bullock
Succeeded byJames M. Smith
Mayor of Augusta, Georgia
In office
1857–1859
Preceded byGeorge W. Evans
Succeeded byFoster Blodgett Jr.
Personal details
Born(1815-03-01)March 1, 1815
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 1886(1886-01-10) (aged 70)
West End, Georgia, U.S.
(now Atlanta, Georgia)
Political partyRepublican

Biography

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Conley was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1815 and moved to Savannah, Georgia, in his youth. He died in 1886 in Atlanta in an area known at the time as West End. Conley was buried at Augusta's Magnolia Cemetery.[2]

Political career

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Conley's previous political service included the office of mayor of Augusta, Georgia, from 1857 to 1859. Conley served as the 47th Governor of Georgia from October 30, 1871, to January 12, 1872, during Reconstruction and was the second Republican governor of Georgia. Conley was serving as the president of the Georgia Senate when his predecessor, Rufus B. Bullock, was forced to resign. Under the Constitution of Georgia in effect at that time, as the Senate president, Conley assumed the governorship and served for only two months. Conley was the last Republican to serve as governor of Georgia until 2003, when Sonny Perdue became governor of Georgia.

References

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  1. ^ "Georgia Governor Benjamin Conley". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  2. ^ "Newspaper clipping about Benjamin Conley published January 21, 1886" (PDF). Calhoun-Gordon County Library Obituary File, Calhoun-Gordon County Library, Calhoun, Georgia. Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
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Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Georgia
October 30, 1871 – January 12, 1872
Succeeded by