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Tracy, Benjamin Franklin

soldier, lawyer, jurist, cabinet officer, was born April 26, 1830, in Owego, N. Y. In 1853 and 1856 he was elected district attorney of Tioga county; and was successively elected and re- elected member of the state legislature. He served in the civil war, and at its close was made a brigadiergeneral. During 1866- 73 he was United States district attora ney for the eastern district of New York; and during 1881-83 was an associate judge of the court of appeals. In 1888 he was chosen by President Harrison to be secretary of the navy, and his record in the creation of the new navy is a matter of history. He drafted the new charter for the greater city of New York; and in 1897 was a candidate for the mayoralty of that city.