A son of Protector John II, Benjamin was the heir apparent to the Protectorship when the Faithful launched their attempted coup against the Grayson government in the opening act of the Civil War. While Protector John, fifty-three Steadholders and their heirs were killed in the surprise attack, Benjamin managed to escape the Steadholder's Hall, covered by the last living armsmen of the murdered leaders of Grayson, who fought alongside Protector John himself to the last man.