An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

FAIRCHILD, Benjamin Lewis, a Representative from New York; born in Sweden (near Rochester), Monroe County, N.Y., January 5, 1863; attended the public schools of Washington, D.C., and a business college; was graduated from the law department of Columbian (now George Washington) University at Washington, D.C., in 1885; was admitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in New York City; employed in the draftsman division of the United States Patent Office 1877-1879; clerk in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing 1879-1885; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897); unsuccessfully contested the election of William L. Ward to the Fifty-fifth Congress; resumed the practice of law in New York City; elected to the Sixty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1917-March 3, 1919); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1918 to the Sixty-sixth Congress; again elected to the Sixty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1921-March 3, 1923); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1922 to the Sixty-eighth Congress, but was subsequently elected to that Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James V. Ganly; reelected to the Sixty-ninth Congress and served from November 6, 1923, to March 3, 1927; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1926 to the Seventieth Congress; resumed the practice of law in New York City; died in Pelham Manor, N.Y., October 25, 1946; interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City.