Charles Memorial Hamilton

Charles Memorial Hamilton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's at-large district
In office July 1, 1868 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	George S. Hawkins (pre-Civil War)
Succeeded by	Josiah T. Walls
Personal details
Born	November 1, 1840 Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Died	October 22, 1875 (aged 34) Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican

Charles Memorial Hamilton (November 1, 1840 – October 22, 1875) was a US Representative from Florida.

Biography

Born in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania; attended the public schools and was graduated from the Columbia Law School, Columbia, Pennsylvania.

During the American Civil War, Hamilton entered the Union Army as a private in 1861 and served in Company A, Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves; appointed judge advocate of the general court-martial and general pass officer for the Army of the Potomac; served on the staff of the Military Governor of Washington, D.C., until transferred to Marianna, Florida in 1865.

He was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced practice in Marianna, Fla.; upon the readmission of the State of Florida to representation was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses and served from July 1, 1868, to March 3, 1871; unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1870; appointed senior major general of the Florida Militia in February 1871; postmaster of Jacksonville, Florida from July 27, 1871, to March 1, 1872; appointed collector of customs at Key West, Florida, in February 1873; resigned on account of ill health; died in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pa.; interment in Jersey Shore Cemetery.

Further reading

• "More Courage than Discretion': Charles M. Hamilton in Reconstruction-Era Florida," Florida Historical Quarterly 84 (Spring 2006).

References

• Charles Memorial Hamilton at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-09-28