Benjamin David Schwartz was born in 1909 in Poland and immigrated to the United States in 1913 with his parents, settling in Wilmington. He attended Hemingway and Cornelius Harnett schools and was a part of the first class of New Hanover High School in 1921. Schwartz then attended UNC Chapel Hill, becoming a member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity and graduating with a degree in commerce. In 1931, he married fellow graduate Sylvia Wolk. They went on to have two children, Melvin and Maxine. Before committing himself to public service, Schwartz managed his family's business, the Home Furniture Store, on Market Street.

During the 1960s, Schwartz began his career in politics serving as a member of the Wilmington City Council and as Mayor from 1970-1972. He was then elected to the N.C. House of Representatives from 1972-1978 and N.C. Senate from 1978-1979. Also active in the Wilmington community, Schwartz maintained memberships in the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, B’Nai B'Rith, the United Jewish Appeal, and the Committee of 100. He was named a trustee of Wilmington College in the 1950s and was elected to UNC Wilmington’s Board of Trustees in 1981, serving as chairman in his final term. A residence hall on UNCW’s campus is named in his honor. In 1993, The Wilmington Civitan Club honored Schwartz and his wife with its Good Citizenship Award.

B.D. Schwartz died at the age of 92 in 2001 and is buried at the B’Nai Israel Hebrew Cemetery.