Major Benjamin Franklin Graves was born in Virginia in 1771 and came to Fayette County, Kentucky, with his family in 1791. Essentially a farmer, Graves did get elected to represent his county in the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly.

As a major in the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Kentucky Volunteer Regiment, Graves commanded the western wall of the American position behind the French Town fences on January 22, 1813. He was wounded while passing out ammunition to his men and was left behind with other American wounded after the battle ended. His youngest brother, Thomas, was killed during the battle.

On January 23, Graves was taken away by some Potawatomies and was reported to have been seen in a sleigh near the River Rouge a couple days later. Timothy Mallory and Sam Gano saw him in captivity before they made their own escape. No further knowledge of his fate has ever come to light. Graves County, Kentucky, was named in his memory.