Benjamin Clarke Marsh (1878–1952) was a social worker, journalist, and Georgist activist who helped pioneer the city planning movement in the United States.
[1][2] Born in Bulgaria to American missionary parents, Marsh brought evangelic zeal to the causes he espoused.
He toured Europe to learn how housing was being regulated there, organized anti-congestion exhibits and made numerous speeches on the subject.
Its report of the following year caused controversy for recommending that a new land tax be considered but eventually led to New York adopting the first comprehensive zoning scheme in the U.S. Marsh's energetic efforts also bore fruit on a national scale.
Business people saw his views on land taxation as radical and his refusal to compromise led other planning advocates to denounce him.