Maritime realist painter and architect. He was born into a wealthy Salem merchant family. His brother, Frank W. Benson was a renowned impressionist painter. Although he aspired to a career in art, he made his living as an architect and was well into his fifties before he began his career painting maritime scenes. He is estimated to have produced more than 500 canvasses. His paintings can be viewed at Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts; Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine.  (bio by: Bob on Gallows Hill)