James Webb Benton was born on July 9, 1892 at Fort Myer, Virginia, the son of James Watson Benton and Sarah Henry Benton. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at Cambridge in England in 1914 and his Master of Arts in 1920. He was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919. He began his diplomatic career as Assistant Military attaché in Tokyo in 1918. In 1919 he received the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure. From 1921 to 1922 he was Third Secretary Embassy at Rio de Janeiro and from 1922 to 1924, Second secretary at Montevideo. In 1924 he was Charge d'affaires at Caracas. From 1925 to 1927, he was Second secretary at Lisbon and from 1927 to 1929, Secretary of Legation at Warsaw. From 1929 to 1932 he was Second secretary at the Embassy in Madrid and from 1933 to 1934 Charge d'affaires Legation at Prague. In 1935 he became First secretary and in 1936 Consul at Bremen. From 1937 to 1939, he was First Secretary Legation at The Hague and from 1939 to 1941, First secretary Legation at Bucharest. Next, he was Vice Consul, at Marseille, France. During World War II he was interned for 14 months by the Germans at Baden-Baden while serving at Marseilles. His 72-year-old mother, Mrs. Sarah Benton was the eldest internee. In 1944 he became Consul general at Leopoldville. In 1944, he was Counselor, American Embassy near the Netherlands Government in London. In 1945 he was Counselor at the Embassy at The Hague. On Thursday, October 23, 1947 while serving as the counselor of the United States Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, he died at age 55 after a kidney operation at Lisbon, Portugal. He was assigned to the embassy in May 1947.
Sources: The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, Friday, October 24, 1947 and Prabook.
Sources: The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, Friday, October 24, 1947 and Prabook.
James Webb Benton was born on July 9, 1892 at Fort Myer, Virginia, the son of James Watson Benton and Sarah Henry Benton. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at Cambridge in England in 1914 and his Master of Arts in 1920. He was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919. He began his diplomatic career as Assistant Military attaché in Tokyo in 1918. In 1919 he received the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure. From 1921 to 1922 he was Third Secretary Embassy at Rio de Janeiro and from 1922 to 1924, Second secretary at Montevideo. In 1924 he was Charge d'affaires at Caracas. From 1925 to 1927, he was Second secretary at Lisbon and from 1927 to 1929, Secretary of Legation at Warsaw. From 1929 to 1932 he was Second secretary at the Embassy in Madrid and from 1933 to 1934 Charge d'affaires Legation at Prague. In 1935 he became First secretary and in 1936 Consul at Bremen. From 1937 to 1939, he was First Secretary Legation at The Hague and from 1939 to 1941, First secretary Legation at Bucharest. Next, he was Vice Consul, at Marseille, France. During World War II he was interned for 14 months by the Germans at Baden-Baden while serving at Marseilles. His 72-year-old mother, Mrs. Sarah Benton was the eldest internee. In 1944 he became Consul general at Leopoldville. In 1944, he was Counselor, American Embassy near the Netherlands Government in London. In 1945 he was Counselor at the Embassy at The Hague. On Thursday, October 23, 1947 while serving as the counselor of the United States Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, he died at age 55 after a kidney operation at Lisbon, Portugal. He was assigned to the embassy in May 1947.
Sources: The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, Friday, October 24, 1947 and Prabook.
Sources: The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina, Friday Morning, October 24, 1947; The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, Friday, October 24, 1947 and Prabook.
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