| Benjamin P. Cornelius | |
| Office: | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives |
| Term: | 1893 - 1894 |
| Constituency: | Washington County |
| Office2: | Member of the Oregon House of Representatives |
| Term2: | 1917 - 1918 |
| Constituency2: | Washington County |
| Office3: | 17th Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon |
| Term3: | 1903 - 1906 |
| Predecessor3: | William N. Barrett |
| Successor3: | John Dennis |
| Birth Date: | November 9, 1850 |
| Birth Place: | Hillsboro, Oregon, US |
| Death Place: | Hillsboro, Oregon, US |
| Spouse: | Esther A. Barrett |
| Profession: | Farmer |
Benjamin Peyton Cornelius (November 9, 1850 - December 24, 1930) was an American politician and judge in Oregon. A Republican, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon. The son of Thomas R. Cornelius, he was also the sheriff of Washington County and a judge in that county.
Cornelius was born to Thomas Cornelius and Florentine Wilks on November 9, 1850, in Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon.[1] He was raised in that county and was engaged in agriculture before marrying Esther A. Barrett on November 11, 1871, in neighboring Glencoe.
Cornelius became involved in politics as a Republican and served as a delegate to the county's party convention and state conventions starting in the 1880s.[1]
In 1884, Cornelius won his first election when he was elected as the sheriff of Washington County.[1] He was elected again in 1888, and in 1894 was elected as a county judge.[1] In 1892, Cornelius entered state politics and was elected to a two-year term in the Oregon House of Representatives as a Republican representing Washington County.[2]
Following his term as county judge he returned to farming before winning election as mayor of Hillsboro in 1903.[3] The seventeenth person to serve as mayor of Washington County's seat, he was in office from December 15, 1903, until December 4, 1906.[3] Cornelius returned to the Oregon House in 1917 after winning election in 1916, again representing Washington County.[4] Benjamin P. Cornelius died on December 24, 1930, at the age of 80.