History knows Benjamin F Butler (MA) as the Civil War general. However, in regards to the Prison Association of New York Benjamin F Butler (NY) was a lawyer, New York Jurist, and Regency Politician.  Born in 1795 Benjamin Butler was a behind the scenes politician from 1820-1854. His Life involved multiple financial scandals, but he was a strong advocate for Anti-Slavery. 

Butler was a man of integrity and earned the Nickname "Bible Ben".  His most notable work was done in 1824 when he worked for 4 years as one of the revisers of New York state Statues.  Butler was a bright man who passed the bar in 1817 and became an associate at the Van Buren's law firm. At this time he focused on extending business and working for growth of New York.  

Butler was an advocate of Jeremy Bentham's principle of utilitarianism and was an advocate for anti-slavery. He is noted as the attorney general as 

As Attorney General, Butler's opinions dealt with such rou tine matters as military pensions and pay, Indian affairs, land claims, and various lower court decisions. In line with his own

temperament and Jeffersonian political philosophy, he ad hered strictly to the view that he should give only to the President and department heads "advice and opinions upon questions of law.

He furthered his work for Anti-Slavery as a young man he had witnessed a tragic event when a woman killed herself after being separated from her husband on the action block. This stuck with Butler as he proceeded in his political career. However at this point in his life he was unable to continue his political career and did not make much progress until his death.