Charles G. Bryant
Encyclopedia
Charles Grandison Bryant (1803–1850) was an architect, soldier, adventurer, and American expansionist whose career stretched from Maine
to Texas
. He is one of few prominent figures to have taken part in American expansionism on both the Canadian and Mexican borders.
Born the son of a shipwright in Belfast, Maine
, Bryant learned the trade of housewright, and by 1825 had established himself in the nearby lumber port and boom town of Bangor, Maine
. In 1830 he the was first housewright in Maine
to begin calling himself "architect", and consequently took on more ambitious projects, sometimes selling plans but not executing the commissions himself. He drew a master plan for Bangor's streets, and for Mount Hope Cemetery
, only the second garden cemetery in the United States. He also designed a number of Greek Revival style houses and commercial blocks for the city's mercantile elite, such as Mercantile Row (1833–34, no longer extant), and began speculating in land. The major commissions by Bryant in Bangor include :
As a local militia officer, Bryant was also instrumental in putting down a deadly riot in Bangor in 1833, involving newly-arrived Irish immigrants and American loggers and sailors. Bangor incorporated as a city the following year in order to establish a police force, and prevent future recurrences.:
Bryant lost heavily in the Panic of 1837
and turned his attention from architecture to running a military school. The school became a headquarters for conspirators plotting to wrest Canada
from British control, and Bryant was arrested in July, 1838 for violating neutrality laws. Bangor and Maine politicians were then engaged in their own border dispute with Canada known as the Aroostook War
, which would come to a head the following year with the intervention of the U.S. Army. Jumping bail in order to participate in ongoing Canadian Rebellions of 1837
, Bryant styled himself "The Grand Eagle" in his secret correspondence with the rebellion's leaders, but the movement soon collapsed and his contribution ended in fiasco. Returning to Bangor, Bryant closed his school and left with his oldest son, Andrew Jackson Bryant, for the newly-created Republic of Texas
.
Settling in Galveston
, Bryant practiced as one of the Republic's first architects, designing St. Mary's Cathedral (1847–48), the Galveston Prison and Court Room (1847–48), and the Charles K. Rhodes House in San Luis (1840). In 1842 he also joined the Galveston Fusiliers, a local militia unit, and participated in the invasion of Rafael Vasquez. Later he became a Major in the Texas Rangers
. While on an expedition against the Lipan Apaches in 1850 Bryant's unit was ambushed and he was killed and scalped.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He is one of few prominent figures to have taken part in American expansionism on both the Canadian and Mexican borders.
Born the son of a shipwright in Belfast, Maine
Belfast, Maine
Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River on Penobscot Bay, Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County...
, Bryant learned the trade of housewright, and by 1825 had established himself in the nearby lumber port and boom town of Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. In 1830 he the was first housewright in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
to begin calling himself "architect", and consequently took on more ambitious projects, sometimes selling plans but not executing the commissions himself. He drew a master plan for Bangor's streets, and for Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
, only the second garden cemetery in the United States. He also designed a number of Greek Revival style houses and commercial blocks for the city's mercantile elite, such as Mercantile Row (1833–34, no longer extant), and began speculating in land. The major commissions by Bryant in Bangor include :
- William Emerson House, Union St., 1832 (demolished)
- Nathaniel Hatch House, Court St., 1832 (extant)
- Elias T. Aldrich House, Summer St., 1833 (demolished)
- Mercantile Block, Broad St., 1833-34 (demolished)
- Bangor House (hotel), Main St.,1833-34 (extant)
- Jonas Cutting-Edward Kent House, Penobscot & Pine St., 1833 (extant)
- Nicholas G. Norcross House, Broadway, 1833-34 (extant)
- Samuel Smith House, Broadway, 1834-35 (extant)
- Rufus & Calvin Dwinel Double House, Broadway, 1835 (demolished)
- Pine St. Methodist Church, 1836-37 (demolished)
- John A. PoorJohn A. PoorJohn Alfred Poor was an American lawyer, editor, and entrepreneur best remembered for his association with the Grand Trunk Railway and his role in developing the railroad system in Maine. He was the older brother of Henry Varnum Poor of Standard & Poor's, who was his partner in some business...
- Moses Appleton Double House, High St., 1836-37 (extant but highly altered) - George W. Brown House, High St., 1835-36 (extant)
- George W. PickeringAdams-Pickering BlockThe Adams-Pickering Block is a Second Empire-style commercial block on Main St. in Bangor, Maine. Designed by architect George W. Orff, it is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, based on architectural significance. It is unusual in having an entirely granite facade...
House, High St., 1835-37 (extant) - Charles G. Bryant Double House, Division St., 1836 (extant)
As a local militia officer, Bryant was also instrumental in putting down a deadly riot in Bangor in 1833, involving newly-arrived Irish immigrants and American loggers and sailors. Bangor incorporated as a city the following year in order to establish a police force, and prevent future recurrences.:
Bryant lost heavily in the Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
and turned his attention from architecture to running a military school. The school became a headquarters for conspirators plotting to wrest Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from British control, and Bryant was arrested in July, 1838 for violating neutrality laws. Bangor and Maine politicians were then engaged in their own border dispute with Canada known as the Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...
, which would come to a head the following year with the intervention of the U.S. Army. Jumping bail in order to participate in ongoing Canadian Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
, Bryant styled himself "The Grand Eagle" in his secret correspondence with the rebellion's leaders, but the movement soon collapsed and his contribution ended in fiasco. Returning to Bangor, Bryant closed his school and left with his oldest son, Andrew Jackson Bryant, for the newly-created Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
Settling in Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
, Bryant practiced as one of the Republic's first architects, designing St. Mary's Cathedral (1847–48), the Galveston Prison and Court Room (1847–48), and the Charles K. Rhodes House in San Luis (1840). In 1842 he also joined the Galveston Fusiliers, a local militia unit, and participated in the invasion of Rafael Vasquez. Later he became a Major in the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
. While on an expedition against the Lipan Apaches in 1850 Bryant's unit was ambushed and he was killed and scalped.