Benjamin Bussey (1757—1842[1]) was a prosperous American merchant, farmer, horticulturalist and patriot in Boston, Massachusetts,[2] who made significant contributions to the creation of the Arnold Arboretum.

In 1800, he inherited additional land from fellow patriot Eleazer Weld and further enlarged his estate between 1806 and 1837 by acquiring and consolidating various farms that had been established as early as the seventeenth century.

[5] Bussey opened a gold and silversmith shop in Dedham in 1778 where he made spurs, spoons, and other objects from metal.

[1][4][5][6] On his estate, which featured wallpaper views of Paris and French furniture, Bussey practiced scientific farming.

[4] He left retirement at the age of 62 to return to Dedham where he purchased the Norfolk Cotton Manufacturing Company on Maverick Street along Mother Brook.

[1] Bussey then bought a failed woollen mill from the Dedham Worsted Company[nb 1] only three years after they opened on the street that now bears his name.

"[10][4][11][6] Bussey also bought vast tracts of land in Maine, and had a number of other business interests, including a private bank.

"[4] Though he called his mills along Mother Brook to be his most "valuable and productive property", he did not give any large sums of money to causes in Dedham.

Sixteen years after Bussey's death, James Arnold, a New Bedford, Massachusetts whaling merchant, specified that a portion of his estate was to be used for "...the promotion of Agricultural, or Horticultural improvements".