Benjamin Brown French

Benjamin Brown French had ties to 12 presidential administrations and served as Commissioner of Public Buildings under three chief executives: Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson.  French was an early leader of the fledgling Republican Party in Washington. He served as chief marshal for President Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration and worked closely with First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln while at the White House. French served as a marshal at the Gettysburg battlefield dedication and wrote a song sung prior to President Lincoln’s famous address. As commissioner of Public Buildings, French had the unfortunate duty of planning President Lincoln’s funeral in April 1865. His son built the catafalque used to lay Lincoln’s casket in state, which is still used today for other prominent Americans. While in office, French managed the completion of the U.S. Capitol Dome and administered all of DC’s public buildings, roads, and bridges. French joined Freemasonry in New Hampshire, his home state, and transferred his membership to National Lodge No. 12 when he relocated to Washington. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of DC from 1847-1853, and again in 1868. He also served as the head of the national Masonic order of Knights Templar from 1859 to 1865.