Benito Legarda

Benito Cosmé Legarda y Tuason (September 27, 1853 – August 27, 1915) was a Filipino legislator who was a member of the Philippine Commission of the American colonial Insular Government, the government's legislature, and later a Resident Commissioner from the Philippine Islands to the United States Congress.

Early life and education He was born in Manila, Philippines on September 27, 1853 to a Spanish-Filipino and Chinese mestizo family. He attended the Jesuits' College and the University of Santo Tomas of Manila.

Political career He started his political life as a member of President Emilio Aguinaldo's cabinet at Malolos and vice president of the Malolos Congress. He later became a member of the Philippine Commission in 1901 and was elected as a Resident Commissioner to the Sixtieth and to the two succeeding Congresses (November 22, 1907 - March 3, 1912). He was not a candidate for renomination to the Sixty-third Congress in 1912, in large part due to opposition to his candidacy from the Philippine Assembly. He was an upper-class Filipino who cooperated with the United States.

Death Benito Legarda died on August 27, 1915, in Evian-les-Bains, France. He is buried at the Manila North Cemetery.

Legacy The Legarda Elementary School and Legarda Street in Manila were named in Legarda's honor.