Grigori Benenson

Peter Benenson
Born	Peter James Henry Solomon Template:Birth date London, England
Died	February 25, 2005(2005-02-25) (aged 83) Oxford, England
Occupation(s)	Barrister, human rights activist
Known for	Founder of Amnesty International

Peter Benenson (originally named Peter James Henry Solomon; 31 July 1921 – 25 February 2005) was a British barrister and advocate for human rights, renowned as the initiator of Amnesty International (AI). This organization is a worldwide movement with a membership exceeding 10 million across over 150 nations, dedicated to combating human rights violations and advocating for the liberation of political detainees.

While he declined most accolades throughout his lifetime, he accepted the Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001 during his eighties. In the 1980s, he led the Association of Christians Against Torture, and in the 1990s, he coordinated assistance efforts for Romanian orphans. Additionally, he established a support network for individuals affected by celiac disease, a condition he personally experienced.

Early life

Benenson was born in London into a distinguished Jewish family as the sole son of Harold Solomon and Flora Benenson, who was originally from Russia; he later adopted his mother's surname. Following his father's passing when he was nine years old, he received private tutoring from W. H. Auden before attending Eton College. At the age of sixteen, he helped create a relief fund aimed at supporting children orphaned by the Spanish Civil War. He took on the Benenson surname in tribute to his grandfather, Grigori Benenson (1860–1939), a Russian financier.

He began studies at Balliol College, Oxford, but his education was interrupted by World War II. During the conflict, he served in the Intelligence Corps at the Ministry of Information, where he met his first spouse, Margaret Anderson. His wartime role included cryptographic work at Bletchley Park within the Testery, where he was recorded as RSM Benenson in Room 41.

Career

Following his demobilization in 1946, Benenson practiced law as a barrister and became active in politics by joining the Labour Party. He ran unsuccessfully for parliamentary seats in Streatham in 1950 and in Hitchin during 1951, 1955, and 1959. In 1957, he was among the founding members of JUSTICE, a British organization focused on human rights and legal reform. After falling ill in 1958, he relocated to Italy for recovery and converted to the Roman Catholic Church.

Activism

Benenson’s attention was drawn by a news story about two Portuguese men incarcerated for subversion under the authoritarian regime of António de Oliveira Salazar’s Estado Novo. He contacted David Astor, editor of The Observer, resulting in the publication of his piece "The Forgotten Prisoners" on 28 May 1961. The article called upon readers to support individuals imprisoned due to their political or religious convictions. Subsequently, Amnesty International was established in London in July 1961 during a meeting involving Benenson and six others from Conservative, Liberal, and Labour backgrounds to organize letter-writing campaigns. The initiative quickly expanded internationally within its first year.

Amnesty International

Benenson served as Amnesty International’s first general secretary but stepped down in 1964 because of health problems. By 1966, amid internal turmoil triggered by an unpublished report alleging torture during the Aden Emergency, he accused the British government of meddling in AI’s leadership. A subsequent inquiry held in Elsinore, Denmark in 1967 dismissed these claims, prompting his resignation from AI. Although he did not return to active participation afterward, Benenson later made personal amends with leaders including Seán MacBride.

Personal life

Benenson's initial marriage to Margaret Anderson concluded with a divorce in 1972; the couple had two daughters, Natasha and Jilly Benenson. In 1973, he wed Susan Booth, and together they had two additional children, Manya and Joachim Benenson.

Death

On 25 February 2005, Benenson passed away due to pneumonia at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford at the age of 83. At the time, he lived in the nearby village of Nuneham Courtenay, where he was subsequently laid to rest.

Sources

• Pincock, S.: Peter James Henry Solomon Benenson (obituary). Lancet, 2 April 2005; 365: 1224.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-benenson-13233.html

https://www.economist.com/obituary/2005/03/03/peter-benenson

External links

• Obituary, BBC News
• "The forgotten Prisoners" 1961 article (abridged)