BENSON, WILLIAM SHEPHERD Ameri can naval officer, was born at Macon, Ga., on Sept 25, 1855. He graduated from the U.S. Naval academy in 1877; became captain in 1909, and rear admiral in 1915. He had been commandant of the Philadelphia Navy Yard for two years when, in 1915, he was appointed chief of naval operations. He was a member of the commission appointed to confer with the Allied Powers in 1917, and was appointed naval representative for preparing the terms of the Armistice (1918) and naval adviser to the American peace commission. He was retired automatically in 1919, with the rank of rear-admiral. In 192o he was appointed chairman of the U.S. shipping board and made admiral for life.