Charles T. Gorham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Truesdell Gorham
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| U.S. Minister to the Netherlands | |
| In office December 15, 1870 – July 9, 1875 |
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| President | Ulysses S. Grant |
| Preceded by | Joseph Pomeroy Root |
| Succeeded by | Francis B. Stockbridge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 29, 1812 Danbury, Connecticut |
| Died | March 11, 1901 (aged 88) Marshall, Michigan |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Charlotte Eaton Hart |
| Children | 3 |
Charles T. Gorham (May 29, 1812 – March 11, 1901) was an important person from Michigan. He was a banker and a diplomat, which means he represented his country in other nations. Gorham helped start the Republican Party. He was also a strong activist against slavery. He was a military leader in Michigan before the American Civil War. Later in his life, he served as the U.S. Minister to the Netherlands. He also worked as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior.
Contents
A Life of Service
Early Life and Business
Charles Truesdell Gorham was born in Danbury, Connecticut on May 29, 1812. He grew up in Oneonta, New York. There, he learned about business.
In 1836, Gorham moved to Marshall, Michigan. He worked as a merchant. In 1840, he started his own bank. He ran it privately until 1865. That year, he made it an official company called the First National Bank of Marshall. He was the President until he retired in 1898.
Political and Military Roles
Gorham was first a Democrat. Later, he joined the Whig Party. In the mid-1850s, he helped create the Republican Party.
In 1855, he became a Major General. He commanded one of three military divisions in Michigan. In 1859, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate for one term. Gorham used these roles to prepare the state's military. He helped recruit and train soldiers before the Civil War.
He attended the Republican National Conventions in 1864 and 1868. In 1868, he was a Presidential elector for Michigan. He voted for Ulysses S. Grant to become President.
Fighting Against Slavery
Charles T. Gorham was a strong activist against slavery. He was involved with the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
He played a key role in the Crosswhite Affair. This event happened when some people from Kentucky tried to capture an African American family in Marshall. They wanted to force them back into slavery. More than 200 people from Marshall, led by Gorham, stopped this from happening. The Crosswhite Affair was a big event. It helped lead to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This law made it harder for enslaved people to escape.
Later Public Service
From 1870 to 1875, Gorham served as the U.S. Minister to the Netherlands. This meant he was America's top diplomat in that country. From March 1876 to April 1877, he was the Assistant Secretary of the Interior. After this, he went back to his banking work in Marshall.
Retirement and Family
Gorham retired from banking in 1898. He passed away in Marshall on March 11, 1901. He was buried in Marshall's Oakridge Cemetery.
Charles T. Gorham married Charlotte Eaton Hart on April 10, 1839. She was from Durham, New York. They had two sons and one daughter: Selden H., Charles E., and Isabella.
