Charles E. Dudley
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Dudley was an American
politician.
, the son of Loyalist
parents. His father, Charles Dudley, an Englishman, was Collector of the King's Customs at Newport, Rhode Island
, where he married Catherine Cooke, of a Rhode Island colonial family. The elder Charles Dudley was the son of Thomas Dudley and his wife Mary Levett
of Staffordshire, England. In November 1775, he abandoned his office at Newport and sought refuge on board a British ship of war. In the following year he took up his residence in England, where his wife joined him, and in 1780 at Johnson Hall, Staffordshire
, their son, Charles Edward, was born. Ten years later the father died and in 1795 the mother returned to her native town, bringing with her the fifteen-year-old youth, who was schooled at Newport. Near the beginning of the nineteenth century, young Dudley worked as a clerk in a counting room and was making voyages from New York to the East Indies as supercargo. During the War of 1812
, and probably several years earlier, he was engaged in the mercantile business and living in Albany, New York
, where he married Blandina Bleecker, a member of a substantial Albany family. He entered public life in his late thirties. Dudley was a presidential elector in election of 1816
and voted for James Monroe
and Daniel D. Tompkins
. Known as a successful and generous man of affairs and an affable gentleman, Dudley was chosen by the Common Council for several terms as Mayor of Albany, serving from 1821 to 1824, and from 1828 to 1829. He was a member of the New York State Senate
from 1820 to 1825.
As a steppingstone to a place of power in New York State politics, his membership in the "Albany Regency
", headed by Martin Van Buren
, was more important than any state or local office within his grasp. Like the other members of the Regency, he was a man of personal integrity and, unlike some of the most eminent among them, he had skill and adroitness in dealing with individuals. The details of troublesome patronage problems might safely be left to him, while Van Buren, Marcy
, Wright
, and other leaders were busied with the big question of public policy. Accordingly, Dudley became and long remained a useful member of the conclave. While he had a seat in the state Senate the Regency had to face the most critical situation in its career - the fight with DeWitt Clinton
. Dudley and his fellow senator Silas Wright
voted for the removal of Clinton from the Erie Canal Commission
, and they also voted to postpone the provision for popular choice of presidential electors. Meanwhile, Dudley kept Van Buren, now a Senator at Washington, informed as to Albany developments.
When Van Buren resigned his seat in the United States Senate
to become Governor of New York
, Dudley, having been defeated for a seat in the House of Representatives
, was elected
to fill the vacancy. Dudley took his seat on January 29, 1829, and remained in office until March 4, 1833. He was an early example of the businessman in the Senate, where he played an inconspicuous role, but loyally supported the Jackson
administration by his votes. He retired at the end of his term and spent the rest of his life in Albany, retaining his interest in Democratic politics and being buried in the Rural Cemetery. He received no public recognition from Van Buren as President. In 1856, fifteen years after his death, his widow, partly motivated by the interest in astronomy that Dudley had shown during his lifetime, provided funds for an astronomical observatory at Albany which received her husband's name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician.
Life
Dudley was born in England during the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the son of Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
parents. His father, Charles Dudley, an Englishman, was Collector of the King's Customs at Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, where he married Catherine Cooke, of a Rhode Island colonial family. The elder Charles Dudley was the son of Thomas Dudley and his wife Mary Levett
Levett
Levett is an Anglo-Norman territorial surname deriving from the village of Livet-en-Ouche, now Jonquerets-de-Livet, in Eure, Normandy. Ancestors of the earliest Levett family in England, the de Livets were lords of the village of Livet, and undertenants of the de Ferrers, among the most powerful of...
of Staffordshire, England. In November 1775, he abandoned his office at Newport and sought refuge on board a British ship of war. In the following year he took up his residence in England, where his wife joined him, and in 1780 at Johnson Hall, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, their son, Charles Edward, was born. Ten years later the father died and in 1795 the mother returned to her native town, bringing with her the fifteen-year-old youth, who was schooled at Newport. Near the beginning of the nineteenth century, young Dudley worked as a clerk in a counting room and was making voyages from New York to the East Indies as supercargo. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and probably several years earlier, he was engaged in the mercantile business and living in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, where he married Blandina Bleecker, a member of a substantial Albany family. He entered public life in his late thirties. Dudley was a presidential elector in election of 1816
United States presidential election, 1816
The United States presidential election of 1816 came at the end of the two-term presidency of Democratic-Republican James Madison. With the Federalist Party in collapse, Madison's Secretary of State, James Monroe, had an advantage in winning the presidency against very weak opposition...
and voted for James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
and Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
. Known as a successful and generous man of affairs and an affable gentleman, Dudley was chosen by the Common Council for several terms as Mayor of Albany, serving from 1821 to 1824, and from 1828 to 1829. He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1820 to 1825.
As a steppingstone to a place of power in New York State politics, his membership in the "Albany Regency
Albany Regency
The Albany Regency was a group of politicians who controlled the New York state government between 1822 and 1838. The group was among the first American political machines...
", headed by Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
, was more important than any state or local office within his grasp. Like the other members of the Regency, he was a man of personal integrity and, unlike some of the most eminent among them, he had skill and adroitness in dealing with individuals. The details of troublesome patronage problems might safely be left to him, while Van Buren, Marcy
William L. Marcy
William Learned Marcy was an American statesman, who served as U.S. Senator and the 11th Governor of New York, and as the U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Secretary of State.-Early life:...
, Wright
Silas Wright
Silas Wright, Jr. was an American Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar...
, and other leaders were busied with the big question of public policy. Accordingly, Dudley became and long remained a useful member of the conclave. While he had a seat in the state Senate the Regency had to face the most critical situation in its career - the fight with DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
. Dudley and his fellow senator Silas Wright
Silas Wright
Silas Wright, Jr. was an American Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar...
voted for the removal of Clinton from the Erie Canal Commission
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
, and they also voted to postpone the provision for popular choice of presidential electors. Meanwhile, Dudley kept Van Buren, now a Senator at Washington, informed as to Albany developments.
When Van Buren resigned his seat in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to become Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, Dudley, having been defeated for a seat in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, was elected
United States Senate special election in New York, 1829
The 1829 United States Senate special election in New York was held on January 15, 1829, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...
to fill the vacancy. Dudley took his seat on January 29, 1829, and remained in office until March 4, 1833. He was an early example of the businessman in the Senate, where he played an inconspicuous role, but loyally supported the Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
administration by his votes. He retired at the end of his term and spent the rest of his life in Albany, retaining his interest in Democratic politics and being buried in the Rural Cemetery. He received no public recognition from Van Buren as President. In 1856, fifteen years after his death, his widow, partly motivated by the interest in astronomy that Dudley had shown during his lifetime, provided funds for an astronomical observatory at Albany which received her husband's name.