Charles E. Stuart
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Stuart was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state
of Michigan
.
, either near Waterloo, New York
, or in Columbia County
. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1832, and commenced practice in Waterloo. He moved to Michigan in 1835 and settled in Kalamazoo, Michigan
.
Stuart was a member of the state house of representatives in 1842 and was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
to the 30th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Edward Bradley
. He served in the U.S.House from December 6, 1847, to March 4, 1849 and was defeated for reelection in 1848 by William Sprague. Two years later, he defeated Sprague by being elected to the 32nd Congress, serving from March 4, 1851 to March 4, 1853. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State in the 32nd Congress.
Stuart was elected to the U.S. Senate
in 1852 and served in the 34th, 35th, and 36th Congresses from March 4, 1853 to March 4, 1859. He was the President pro tempore of the Senate during the 34th Congress, and chairman of the Committee on Public Lands in the 34th and 35th Congresses. He did not seek reelection to the Senate but was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan
in 1858. He resumed the practice of law in Kalamazoo and was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
from Michigan.
During the Civil War
, Stuart raised and equipped the 13th Michigan Infantry
, of which he was commissioned colonel
. He later resigned due to ill health.
Charles E. Stuart died in Kalamazoo and was interred in Mountain Home Cemetery. His home in Kalamazoo at 427 Stuart Ave. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The surrounding Stuart Area Historic District is also listed.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Stuart was born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, either near Waterloo, New York
Waterloo (village), New York
Waterloo is a village in and the county seat of Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 5,111 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Waterloo in Belgium, where Napoleon was defeated...
, or in Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1832, and commenced practice in Waterloo. He moved to Michigan in 1835 and settled in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
.
Stuart was a member of the state house of representatives in 1842 and was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
to the 30th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Edward Bradley
Edward Bradley (politician)
Edward Bradley was a U.S. Representative from the state of Michigan.Bradley was born in East Bloomfield, New York and attended the common schools and the local academy in Canandaigua. He was associate judge of the common pleas court of Ontario County in 1836...
. He served in the U.S.House from December 6, 1847, to March 4, 1849 and was defeated for reelection in 1848 by William Sprague. Two years later, he defeated Sprague by being elected to the 32nd Congress, serving from March 4, 1851 to March 4, 1853. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State in the 32nd Congress.
Stuart was elected to the U.S. 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...
in 1852 and served in the 34th, 35th, and 36th Congresses from March 4, 1853 to March 4, 1859. He was the President pro tempore of the Senate during the 34th Congress, and chairman of the Committee on Public Lands in the 34th and 35th Congresses. He did not seek reelection to the Senate but was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in 1858. He resumed the practice of law in Kalamazoo and was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
from Michigan.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Stuart raised and equipped the 13th Michigan Infantry
13th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 13th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 13th Michigan Infantry was organized at Kalamazoo, Michigan and mustered into service for three years enlistment on January 17, 1862 under the command of...
, of which he was commissioned colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. He later resigned due to ill health.
Charles E. Stuart died in Kalamazoo and was interred in Mountain Home Cemetery. His home in Kalamazoo at 427 Stuart Ave. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The surrounding Stuart Area Historic District is also listed.