Benjamin E. McLin

American politician

Benjamin Earnest McLin
2nd Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida
In office
January 9, 1901 – February 5, 1912
GovernorWilliam S. Jennings (1901–1905)
Napoleon B. Broward (1905–1909)
Albert W. Gilchrist (1909–1912)
Preceded byLucius B. Wombwell
Succeeded byJ.C. Luning
Majority18,694 (1904)[1]
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
1895–1899
Preceded byAlexander St. Clair-Abrams Sr. father of Alexander St. Clair-Abrams
Succeeded byP. W. Butler
Personal details
BornSeptember 22, 1851[2]
Greene County, Tennessee[2]
DiedJanuary 31, 1912(1912-01-31) (aged 60)
Orlando, Florida
Political partyDemocratic[1]
Spouses
Malinda "Linnie" Peak Smith
(m. 1876; died 1886)
[2]
Josephine Glidewell
(m. 1887)
[2]
ChildrenEugene Earnest McLin, born September 1882;
Walter Smith McLin, born 1884;
John Blair McLin, born January 1882;
Linnie P. McLin, born July 1889;
Ruby Bearden McLin, born November 8, 1892;
Alma materKing College; Hampden–Sydney College[2]

Benjamin Earnest McLin (September 22, 1851 – January 31, 1912) was a lawyer, businessman and politician, who was a member of the Florida State Senate, and was the second Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida.

McLin was engaged in the milling business in Lake county. He was also extensively invested in growing and shipping oranges. At one time he also operated the largest orange crate manufacturer in Florida, however his plant burnt down and was entirely being wiped out by fire, unfortunately he had no insurance on the plant.[2] Not long after his plant was destroyed, the freeze of 1894–95 swept away his entire orange grove.[2]

He died on January 31, 1912, while attending the Orlando County Fair.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Greeley, Horace (1906), The Tribune Almanac and Political Register, New York, New York: The Tribune Association, p. 252
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Hon. B. E. McLin Commissioner of Agriculture" (PDF). Ocala Evening Star. Ocala, Florida. May 13, 1908. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Sudden Death of Commissioner B. E. McLin Head of Florida Agriculture Department". The Miami News. Tallahassee, Florida. February 1, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Political offices
Preceded by
Lucius B. Wombwell
2nd Commissioner of Agriculture of Florida
January 9, 1901–February 5, 1912
Succeeded by
J.C. Luning
Preceded by
Alexander St. Clair-Abrams
Member of the Florida Senate from the 23rd district
1895–1899
Succeeded by
P. W. Butler
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Commissioner of Agriculture (1888–1969)
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (since 1969)