Jonas, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1834-1911

Benjamin Franklin Jonas (July 19, 1834 – December 21, 1911) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate for one term from 1879 to 1885. The third Jewish man to serve in the Senate, he was the first to practice the religion. Jonas was the last Jewish Senator from the Deep South until Jon Ossoff won his seat in Georgia in 2021.

Born in Grant County, Kentucky, he moved with his parents to Quincy, Illinois as a child. Jonas attended the public schools in Quincy; in 1853, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where he studied law at the Universityof Louisiana (now Tulane University). In 1855, he graduated, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in New Orleans. Despite his family's strong Republican connections, Benjamin Jonas cast his lot with the South in the Civil War. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He was a member of Fenner's Battery, and Adjutant of a Battalion of Artillery in Hood's Corps in the Army of Tennessee. He served until the end of the war, rising to the rank of major. After the war, he returned to New Orleans and became active in state politics as a Democrat. In 1865, he was elected to the state House of Representatives, and served until 1868.

In 1872, he was elected to the State Senate, but declined to take the seat. In 1875, he was appointed city attorney of New Orleans, and served until 1879. He was again elected state Representative in 1876. In 1879, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and served from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1885. In the 46th Congress, he was chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. He sought another term in 1884, but was not re-elected. In 1885, he was appointed Collector of the port of New Orleans, serving until 1889. He then resumed the practice of law.

Jonas died in New Orleans on December 21, 1911, and was buried in Dispersed of Judah Cemetery.