Benjamin Franklin Rice was a Republican politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1868 to 1873.
Rice was born in East Otto, New York, on May 26, 1828 his schooling was private. He studied law, and upon his admission to the bar began practice in Irvine, Kentucky, in which states house of representatives he served from 1855 to 1856. In 1856 he served as a presidential elector for the Republican ticket in 1860 he moved to Minnesota, where he began service as a Union captain during the Civil War. Eventually he gained promotion to the rank of major in position of judge advocate with the 3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
Source: Wikipedia