Benjamin Biggs spent his formative years in Cecil County, Maryland, and pursued higher education at the Methodist Pennington Seminary and Wesleyan University. He served as a major in the Delaware militia during the Mexican–American War and later became a teacher and farmer, specializing in peach orchards. Biggs was a skilled public speaker, which propelled his involvement in public affairs. He began his political career with the Whig Party, played a key role in the Delaware Constitutional Convention of 1852, and later joined the Democratic Party. Biggs was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving two terms, and subsequently served as Governor of Delaware, where he championed reforms and established a state hospital for the insane.

Benjamin Biggs's political journey from the Whig Party to the Democratic Party reveals an ideologically agile approach, shaped by regional interests and evolving party dynamics. His advocacy for reforms in voting procedures and better representation for New Castle County suggests a calculated effort to balance local needs with broader governance improvements. Despite his Democratic affiliation and opposition to Republican racial equality policies, Biggs's establishment of a State Hospital for the Insane indicates a surprising commitment to social welfare. This mix of traditional Southern Democratic stances with progressive public health initiatives presents an intriguing tension in his political identity.