Benjamin Franklin Buchanan

Benjamin Franklin Buchanan
21st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office February 1, 1918 – February 1, 1922
Preceded by	James Taylor Ellyson
Succeeded by	Junius Edgar West
Personal details
Born	October 4, 1857 Smyth County, Virginia
Died	February 21, 1932(1932-02-21) (aged 74) Richmond, Virginia
Political party	Democrat
Spouse(s)	Eleanor Fairman Sheffey Buchanan
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Profession	lawyer

Benjamin Franklin Buchanan (October 4, 1857 – February 21, 1932) was an American politician who served as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1918 to 1922.

Buchanan was born in Smyth County, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1880. He also received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia in 1884. On March 2, 1887 Buchanan married Eleanor Fairman Sheffey. They had four sons and three daughters.

Buchanan practiced law in Marion and Abingdon. He also served as general counsel to the office of the United States comptroller of the currency from 1915 to 1921. He served several terms in the Senate of Virginia representing Smyth and Washington Counties, where he became one of the General Assembly's foremost authorities on taxation.

In 1917 Buchanan, a Democrat, won election as lieutenant governor of Virginia. He served from February 1, 1918 to February 1, 1922.

Buchanan died of a heart attack on February 21, 1932 in Richmond, where he was attending a session of the General Assembly. He was buried in Round Hill Cemetery in Marion. In 1934 the General Assembly designated the road that became state highway 16 in Smyth County the B. F. Buchanan Highway.

Political offices
Preceded by James Taylor Ellyson	Lieutenant Governor of Virginia 1918–1922	Succeeded by Junius Edgar West

Source

• John T. Kneebone et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography (Richmond: The Library of Virginia, 1998– ), 2:366–367.