Charles Jackson Paine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Jackson Paine
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General Charles J. Paine
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| Born | August 26, 1833 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | August 12, 1916 (aged 82) Weston, Massachusetts |
| Place of burial |
Mount Auburn Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War: *Siege of Port Hudson *Siege of Petersburg |
| Other work | Railroad executive, yachtsman |
| Signature | _from_Biographical_History_of_Massachusetts,_Volume_IX.png){kind=small} |
Charles Jackson Paine (born August 26, 1833 – died August 12, 1916) was an important American figure. He was a successful railroad executive. He also served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Later in life, he became a famous yachtsman.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Charles Jackson Paine was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 26, 1833. His parents were Charles Cushing Paine and Fannie Cabot Jackson. He was the great-grandson of Robert Treat Paine. Robert Treat Paine was one of the men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
Charles had a brother named Sumner Edward Jackson Paine. Sumner was a soldier too. He was killed in battle on July 3, 1863. This happened during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Education and Military Service
Paine graduated from Harvard in 1853. After college, he became very wealthy from his work with railroads.
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Paine joined the army. He started as a captain. He served in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry. The next year, he was sent to Ship Island, Mississippi. In October, he became the first colonel of the 2nd Louisiana Infantry.
Key Battles
During the siege of Port Hudson in 1863, Paine led a group of soldiers called a brigade. He left the army in March 1864. But he rejoined in July as a brigadier general.
On September 29, Paine led a division of African American troops. They fought bravely at New Market Heights, near Richmond, Virginia. Paine also took part in two attacks on Fort Fisher. His troops played a smaller role in these attacks. However, they were more involved in the later Battle of Wilmington.
After the war, Paine briefly commanded a district in New Berne. He helped get Robert Gould Shaw's captured sword back. This allowed it to be returned to Shaw's family. On January 15, 1866, he was given the honorary rank of major general.
Later Life and Hobbies
After his military service, Paine became very interested in yachting. He owned three famous yachts: the Puritan, the Mayflower, and the Volunteer. Each of these yachts successfully defended the America's Cup. This is a very famous sailing competition.
Paine was also an athlete in his younger days. He was one of the rowers in the first boat race between Harvard and Yale. This race happened in August 1852. It was the first college sports event in North America.
He also helped start The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. This club was a model for many other country clubs. He even built one of the first golf courses in North America. It was in Weston, Massachusetts. People say he used red golf balls so he could find them in the snow!
Paine helped pay for the Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. His son-in-law, Frederick Winsor, was the first headmaster there. Paine's love for sports continued in his family. Two of his sons, John B. and Sumner, won pistol-shooting events. This happened at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
Charles Jackson Paine passed away on August 12, 1916. He died at his summer home in Weston, Massachusetts. He was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War
Images for kids
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General Charles J. Paine, John Singer Sargent, 1904
