Catholic antiquary, editor, and journalist, who was a prominent opponent of the Know-Nothing Party. In the early days of his career Ben was employed by the newspapers Bardstown Herald and Louisville Journal, but was convinced to publish the Catholic Advocate at Bardstown with the assistance of Martin John Spalding, Jean Baptiste David, and Benedict Joseph Flaget from 1836 until 1841, when he moved its office to Louisville. In 1847 he entered into partnership with Prof. Henry J. Peters in a music store, which resulted in the establishment of a piano manufactory with the name Peters, Webb & Company. In 1867 he was elected to the State Senate, in which capacity he served two terms. He was an author of considerable reputation whose works included The Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky, The Catholic Question in Politics, Letters to George D. Prentice by a Kentucky Catholic, Biography of L. W. Powell, and Biographical Sketch of John L. Helm.