Definition of benjamin franklin tracy in English English dictionary
born April 26, 1830, near Owego, N.Y., U.S. died Aug. 6, 1915, New York, N.Y. U.S. public official. He served as a county district attorney (1853-59) and, after fighting in the American Civil War, as U.S. attorney (1866-73). Appointed secretary of the navy (1889-93) by Pres. Benjamin Harrison, he continued the expansion of the navy begun by William C. Whitney, authorizing construction of new battleships and cruisers. His departmental reforms and modernization contributed to eventual U.S. naval superiority