Charles C. Black
Encyclopedia
Charles Clarke Black was an American
jurist
and Democratic party
politician
from New Jersey
. He was an Associate Justice
of the New Jersey Supreme Court
and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey
in 1904.
Black was born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
in 1858 to John and Mary Anna (Clarke) Black. He attended Princeton University
, graduating in 1878. At Princeton he was a roommate of Woodrow Wilson
, who graduated one year after him. He received a law degree from University of Michigan Law School
in 1881 and was admitted to the New Jersey bar the same year. He practiced law in Jersey City
.
Black was appointed to the New Jersey State Tax Board in 1891 and served on the Equal Tax Commissions of 1896 and 1904. Running on an "equal tax" platform, he was nominated for Governor of New Jersey
at the Democratic State Convention of 1904. In the general election he faced the Republican
nominee Edward C. Stokes
. Stokes also favored equal taxation of railroads and other property, and he ultimately defeated Black by a margin of more than 50,000 votes.
Black continued to serve on the State Tax Board until 1908, when he was appointed by Governor John Franklin Fort
to be a Circuit Court Judge. In 1914 Governor James Fairman Fielder
nominated him to be a Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court
. He served on the Supreme Court until 1939, and after retiring resumed his Jersey City law practice.
In 1947 he died of a heart attack in Jersey City at the age of 89.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and Democratic party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He was an Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 1904.
Black was born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
Mount Holly Township, New Jersey
Mount Holly Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States as well as an eastern suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,728. It is the county seat of Burlington County....
in 1858 to John and Mary Anna (Clarke) Black. He attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, graduating in 1878. At Princeton he was a roommate of Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, who graduated one year after him. He received a law degree from University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1881 and was admitted to the New Jersey bar the same year. He practiced law in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
.
Black was appointed to the New Jersey State Tax Board in 1891 and served on the Equal Tax Commissions of 1896 and 1904. Running on an "equal tax" platform, he was nominated for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
at the Democratic State Convention of 1904. In the general election he faced the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee Edward C. Stokes
Edward C. Stokes
Edward Casper Stokes was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 32nd Governor of New Jersey, from 1905 to 1908.-Biography:...
. Stokes also favored equal taxation of railroads and other property, and he ultimately defeated Black by a margin of more than 50,000 votes.
Black continued to serve on the State Tax Board until 1908, when he was appointed by Governor John Franklin Fort
John Franklin Fort
John Franklin Fort was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 33rd Governor of New Jersey, from 1908–1911. His uncle, George Franklin Fort, was a Democratic Governor of New Jersey from 1851–1854....
to be a Circuit Court Judge. In 1914 Governor James Fairman Fielder
James Fairman Fielder
James Fairman Fielder was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as the 35th Governor of New Jersey, from 1913 to 1917, with a break of several months when he stepped down from office to avoid constitutional limits on serving successive terms.-Biography:He was born in Jersey...
nominated him to be a Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
. He served on the Supreme Court until 1939, and after retiring resumed his Jersey City law practice.
In 1947 he died of a heart attack in Jersey City at the age of 89.