US Congressman. He was born one of four children (he also had two sisters and one brother) in Boonville, Missouri, to Francis Marion Benedict and his wife Julia "Mary" Lamyra Williams Benedict on February 20, 1878. The family later moved and settled in Los Angeles, California. He was educated locally in grammar and high schools of the Los Angeles, California, area, and then went on to attend the prestigious University of Southern California College of Law in Los Angeles, California. He married Aline Idelle Brown on May 19, 1900 (and the couple would have one daughter together, Margaret Winifred Benedict who was born on July 29, 1901). He was then admitted to the bar in 1910 and commenced his practice of law in Los Angeles, California. He then entered politics and served a term as a Member of the California State Assembly from 1910 to 1914. He also served as a Member of the California State Senate from 1914 to 1916. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative William Dennison Stephens. A Member of the Republican Party, he then served California's 10th District (Sixty-Fourth Congress) in the United States House of Representatives from November 7, 1916, to March 3, 1917. He was nominated by the Progressive Party for a term to represent the Sixty-Fifth Congress, but he withdrew on behalf of the Republican Nominee. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Henry Zenas Osborne on March 4, 1917. After leaving the United States Congress he resumed his practice of law in Los Angeles, California. He also became involved in banking pursuits and served as a Member of the State Department of California (State Board of Control) from 1919 to 1921, and as a Member of the California State Railroad Commission from 1921 to 1923. Following his positions with the State Department of California (State Board of Control), and the California State Railroad Commission, he once again resumed his practice of law in Los Angeles, California, until his death. He passed away from chronic nephritis and uremia while visiting London, England, on July 10, 1930, at the age of 52. His body was embalmed and was returned to the United States on board the ship the S.S. Homeric for his funeral and burial. He was buried in the famous Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. His wife Aline passed away on June 13, 1955, at the age of 80, and she was buried beside her husband. His daughter Margaret passed away on December 2, 1976, at the age of 74, and is buried near her parents in the same section of the cemetery.