Ben Stephenson

Little is known about Ben Stephenson outside of his employment at the White House under President James K. Polk. The James Polk Papers at the Library of Congress contain a list of staff members “to be employed at the President’s House” compiled in February 1845, just before Polk assumed office in March. Stephenson is included on the list and identified as the “cook.” He is also listed as making $20, presumably per month.¹ 

No records have been found from Polk’s time as president confirming that Stephenson worked there. However, other individuals on the list ended up working there, suggesting Stephenson likely did as well. It is unclear how long Stephenson may have worked at the White House. In March 1849, just before Polk left office, the president hosted a dinner at the White House and recorded in his diary: “The Dinner was finely gotten up in Julian’s (the French cook) best style. It passed off well.”² Here, President Polk referred to Auguste Julien, a restaurateur in Washington, D.C., hired to cater the party at the White House. It is unclear if Stephenson was no longer working for Polk by this time or if Julien was hired solely for special events while Stephenson did the routine cooking on a daily basis.