Benjamin Arthur Gilman (December 6, 1922 – December 17, 2016) was an American politician, lawyer, and Republican U.S. Representative from New York who served from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 2003. Born in Poughkeepsie and raised in Middletown, New York, he graduated from Middletown High School in 1941. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces (1943–1946) as a B-24 pilot in the China-Burma-India theater, flying 35 combat missions and earning the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters. After the war, he attended City College of New York and earned a J.D. from New York Law School in 1950, being admitted to the bar in 1951. He practiced law in Middletown and served as assistant district attorney for Orange County, New York (1967–1972). His political career began in the New York State Assembly (1967–1972) before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York's 26th congressional district (later redistricted to the 19th and 20th). Gilman was a long-serving member and Chairman (1995–1999) of the House International Relations Committee (also known as the House Committee on International Relations), where he played a key role in foreign policy legislation during the 1990s and was a key figure in foreign aid and security policy. He was known for his strong pro-Israel stance, significant influence on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, and advocacy for anti-terrorism legislation. He co-founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and was a vocal advocate for human rights, U.S. foreign aid, national security, and veterans' affairs, engaging in bipartisan efforts on issues like adoption reform. His career reflected a conservative Republican ideology focused on international relations, and he retired due to health issues and term limits. Gilman passed away in North Carolina at age 94, remembered for his dedication to constituents and foreign policy leadership, though sometimes criticized for his unwavering support for Israel. No major legal controversies or scandals are prominently documented.