Charles S. West
Encyclopedia
Charles Shannon West was an American
jurist
and politician
in the state of Texas
, serving as a state representative
, the Texas Secretary of State
, and an Associate Justice
of the Texas Supreme Court
.
, South Carolina
, West was educated at Jefferson College (Pennsylvania
) and the College of South Carolina. He read law under the mentorship of James Chesnut, Jr.
, and was admitted to the bar in 1850.
West's brother was John Camden West, a Waco writer and attorney. His sister Catherine was married to John Alexander Green, an Austin lawyer and politician and brother of Confederate
General
Tom Green
. In 1859 West married Florence Randolph DuVal, daughter of Judge Thomas Howard DuVal
and granddaughter of Florida Governor William Pope DuVal
. They had three sons, all lawyers, including Judge DuVal West
, Woodrow Wilson
's personal emissary
to Mexico
.
, West made his first partnership with Henry P. Brewster
, thus beginning his successful legal career in that city. In 1855 West was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
and served one term. During this tenure he established a partnership with Judge John Hancock
; their law firm represented the Houston and Texas Central Railway. West was appointed Secretary of State by Governor
Francis R. Lubbock but soon left to fight in the Civil War
, on the side of the C.S.A.
West achieved the rank of major
and was Judge Advocate General
for the Trans-Mississippi Department
. After the war he resumed his practice with Hancock. In the 1870s he worked as one of the six establishing directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
, and was a delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention
in 1875. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas in December 1882 and resigned in September 1885. He died in Austin and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
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 politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the state of 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...
, serving as a state representative
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
, the Texas Secretary of State
Secretary of State of Texas
The Secretary of State of Texas is one of six state officials designated by the Texas Constitution to form the executive department of that U.S. state...
, and 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 Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
.
Early life and family
A native of CamdenCamden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, West was educated at Jefferson College (Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) and the College of South Carolina. He read law under the mentorship of James Chesnut, Jr.
James Chesnut, Jr.
James Chesnut, Jr. of Camden, South Carolina, was a planter, lawyer, United States Senator, a signatory of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, and a Confederate States Army general...
, and was admitted to the bar in 1850.
West's brother was John Camden West, a Waco writer and attorney. His sister Catherine was married to John Alexander Green, an Austin lawyer and politician and brother of Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Tom Green
Thomas Green (general)
Thomas Green was a lawyer, politician, soldier and officer of the Republic of Texas, and rose to the rank of Brigadier General of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Tom Green County, Texas was named after him....
. In 1859 West married Florence Randolph DuVal, daughter of Judge Thomas Howard DuVal
Thomas Howard DuVal
Thomas Howard DuVal was a United States federal judge in the 19th century.DuVal was born in Buckingham County, Virginia and graduated from St. Joseph's College in 1833. He read law in 1837 and went into private practice in Tallahassee, Florida from 1837 to 1841...
and granddaughter of Florida Governor William Pope DuVal
William Pope Duval
William Pope Duval was the first civilian governor of Florida Territory, serving from April 17, 1822 until April 24, 1834.-Early life:...
. They had three sons, all lawyers, including Judge DuVal West
DuVal West
DuVal West was a United States federal judge.Born in Austin, Texas, West attended the Texas Military Institute and an LL.B. from Cumberland University in 1890. He was a Deputy clerk, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas from 1884 to 1885. He was a Chief deputy marshal, U.S...
, 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...
's personal emissary
Emissary
Emissary may refer to:* Ambassador* Apostle* Diplomat* The Subspace Emissary, the single-player Adventure Mode in the video game Super Smash Bros...
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Career in Texas
West moved to Texas in 1851. As a lawyer in AustinAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, West made his first partnership with Henry P. Brewster
Henry Percy Brewster
Henry Percy Brewster was a lawyer, statesman, and soldier from Texas. He fought in the Texas Revolution, and as a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.-Biography:...
, thus beginning his successful legal career in that city. In 1855 West was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
and served one term. During this tenure he established a partnership with Judge John Hancock
John Hancock (Texas politician)
John Hancock was U.S. judge and politician. As a member of the Texas Legislature he opposed the secession of Texas during the American Civil War...
; their law firm represented the Houston and Texas Central Railway. West was appointed Secretary of State by Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Francis R. Lubbock but soon left to fight in 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...
, on the side of the C.S.A.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
West achieved the rank of major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and was Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
for the Trans-Mississippi Department
Trans-Mississippi Department
The Trans-Mississippi Department was an administrative subdivision of the Confederate States of America west of the Mississippi, consisting of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Indian Territories recognized by the CSA, and parts of Western Louisiana...
. After the war he resumed his practice with Hancock. In the 1870s he worked as one of the six establishing directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, and was a delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention
Texas Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Texas is the document that describes the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Texas.Texas has had seven constitutions: the constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas, the state constitutions of 1845,...
in 1875. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Texas in December 1882 and resigned in September 1885. He died in Austin and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.