Charles A. Sumner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Allen Sumner
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's at-large district |
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| In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
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| Preceded by | District inactive |
| Succeeded by | District inactive |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 2, 1835 Great Barrington, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 1903 (aged 67) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Charles Allen Sumner (born August 2, 1835 – died January 31, 1903) was a U.S. Representative for the state of California. He was a politician who served in the United States Congress.
Contents
Charles Allen Sumner: A Life of Service
Growing Up and Learning
Charles Allen Sumner was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He went to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. However, he did not finish his degree there.
After college, he studied law. But he was most interested in stenography. This is a special way of writing very fast to take notes of what people say. He later became a lawyer. He worked on cases related to new inventions, which is called patent practice.
Moving to California
In 1856, Charles Sumner moved to California. He settled in the city of San Francisco. From 1857 to 1861, he reported on the state legislature. This means he wrote down what happened during their meetings.
When the legislature was not in session, he worked in courts. He also helped with law-reporting and editing. In 1860, he helped with political campaigns for the Republican Party.
In 1861, he became the editor of a newspaper called the Herald and Mirror. He spoke out against a land bill known as the "Shafter" bill. His strong opposition helped to stop the bill from passing.
A Time of War
During the American Civil War, Charles Sumner joined the military. On November 26, 1862, he became a captain. He worked as an assistant quartermaster for the United States Volunteers. This job involved managing supplies for the army. He served until March 30, 1864, when he resigned.
Life in Nevada
After his military service, Charles Sumner moved to Virginia City, Nevada. He became a member of the Nevada State Senate. He served in this role from 1865 to 1868. For one session, he was the president pro tempore. This means he was a temporary leader of the Senate.
While in Nevada, he tried twice to become a U.S. Representative. However, he was not successful in these attempts.
Back to San Francisco
In 1868, Charles Sumner returned to San Francisco. He became the editor of the Herald newspaper. In his newspaper, he supported the idea of a government-run postal telegraph system. This would have made sending messages faster and easier across the country.
He was also chosen to be the official note-taker for the city. Later, in 1875 and 1880, he became the official reporter for the supreme court. This meant he recorded what happened in important court cases.
Serving in Congress
Charles Sumner tried to become a U.S. Representative in 1878 but did not win. However, he was elected as a Democrat in 1883. He served in the Forty-eighth Congress from March 4, 1883, to March 3, 1885.
While in Congress, he disagreed with some plans for the Pacific railroads. He also introduced a bill for a postal telegraph system, which he had supported as a newspaper editor. He tried to be reelected in 1884 but was not successful.
Later Years
After his time in Congress, Charles Sumner went back to practicing law. In 1887, Trinity College gave him an honorary degree. This was a special recognition of his achievements.
Charles Allen Sumner passed away in San Francisco, California, on January 31, 1903. He was buried in the George H. Thomas Post plot at the Presidio.
