Benjamin Franklin Keene (September 1, 1809 – September 5, 1854) was a politician who served in the California State Senate and was the third President pro tempore of the California State Senate. He was the author of a bill that authorized the Governor of California to procure blocks of marble to construct the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C..[2] Keene was also the founder of the California Medical Association.[1]
Benjamin F. Keene | |
|---|---|
| 3rd President pro tempore of the California State Senate | |
| In office January 8, 1852 – January 2, 1854 | |
| Preceded by | Elcan Heydenfeldt |
| Succeeded by | Royal Sprague |
| Member of the California State Senate | |
| In office 1854–1856 | |
| Constituency | 18th district |
| In office 1851–1854 | |
| Constituency | 12th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1, 1809 Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.[1] |
| Died | September 5, 1854 (aged 45) Placerville, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Thomas Jefferson University (MD) | |
| Occupation | Physician, surgeon |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | First Regiment of Texas Mounted Rifle Volunteers |
Years of service | 1847–1848 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Battles/wars | Mexican-American War |
Keene was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. He attended school in Rhode Island. He later learned the trade of medicine with an uncle of his in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1829. After this he went to George in 1830 where he practiced medicine in various locations. He established a practice in Jasper County, but also worked in some other locations. He married twice with both his wives dying. In 1847 he joined the American forces in the Mexican American War.[3]
After the war he went to California where he was for a timer a miner in Placerville, California. He later worked as a medical doctor in that place.[4]
References
edit- 1 2 "Founder and First President of the California Medical Association: The Great, Great Grandfather of a Permanente Physician!". The Permanente Journal. 8 (3): 62–63. 2004. PMC 4690700. PMID 26705174.
- ↑ Vassar, Alex; Meyers, Shane. "Benjamin F. Keene". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ↑ [Excerpts from California and Western Medicine May 1942; 56(6):p 296–300, as excerpted by the PerJ source
- ↑ Excepts California and Western Medicine as excerpted by the PerJ source