Charles Memorial Hamilton

For other people named Charles Hamilton, see Charles Hamilton (disambiguation).

Charles Memorial Hamilton (November 1, 1840 – October 22, 1875) was a U.S. Representative from Florida. A Republican, he was from Pennsylvania and served in the Union Army. He was succeeded by Josiah T. Walls, an African American.

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(1875-10-22) (aged 34) Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican

• Biography portal
• American Civil War portal

Early life

Born in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, Hamilton attended public schools and was graduated from the Columbia Law School in Columbia, Pennsylvania.^{[1][dubious – discuss]}

Civil War

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

Legal career

Hamilton was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced practicing law in Marianna, Florida.

Political career

Upon the readmission of the State of Florida to representation, Hamilton was elected as a Republican to the Fortieth and Forty-first Congresses and served from July 1, 1868, to March 3, 1871. He was unsuccessful in his candidacy for renomination in 1870.

Militia leader and government official

Hamilton was appointed Senior Major General of the Florida Militia in February 1871, was postmaster of Jacksonville, Florida from July 27, 1871, to March 1, 1872, and was appointed collector of customs at Key West, Florida, in February 1872,^[2] a position from which he resigned on account of ill health.

Death

Hamilton died in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County, Pa. and was interred at the Jersey Shore Cemetery.

Further reading

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