BRISTOW, Benjamin Helm, statesman, born in Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, 20 June, 1832. He was graduated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1851, studied law, and was admitted to the bar of Kentucky in 1853. He began practice at Elkton, whence he removed to Hopkinsville in 1858. At the beginning of the civil war, at a time when the state was wavering between loyalty and secession, he entered the union army as lieutenant colonel of the 25th Kentucky infantry, and was engaged at the capture of Fort Donelson and at the battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded. He afterward became colonel of the 8th Kentucky cavalry, and served throughout the war with distinction. While still in the field he was elected to the state senate for four years, but resigned at the end of two years, serving only from 1863 until 1865. He was United States district attorney for the Louisville district from 1865 until 1870. The ability with which he filled these offices led to his appointment as solicitor-general of the United States on the organization of the department of justice in October, 1870. In 1872 he resigned to become attorney of the Texas Pacific railroad, but soon returned to the practice of law at Louisville. He was nominated attorney general of the United States in December, 1873, but not confirmed. President Grant appointed him secretary of the treasury on 3 June, 1874, and this office he filled acceptably until the end of June, 1876, when he resigned, owing to the demands of his private business. At the republican national convention of that year, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was a leading candidate for the presidential nomination, receiving 113 votes on the first ballot. Since 1876 he has practiced his profession in New York city.