Charles Merian Cooper (January 16, 1856 – November 14, 1923) was an American attorney and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from Florida from 1893 until 1897.[1]
Charles M. Cooper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Bullock |
| Succeeded by | Robert Wyche Davis |
| 15th Florida Attorney General | |
| In office January 13, 1885 – January 8, 1889 | |
| Governor | Edward A. Perry |
| Preceded by | George P. Raney |
| Succeeded by | William Bailey Lamar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Merian Cooper January 16, 1856 Athens, Georgia, US |
| Died | November 14, 1923 (aged 67) Jacksonville, Florida, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Rosa Leonardi (m. 1880) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Gainesville Academy |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Early life and education
editCooper was born on January 16, 1856, in Athens, Georgia. His father, Charles Phillip Cooper, served as a United States Treasury Department agent until the American Civil War, when he was appointed to help organize the Confederate States Treasury Department. In 1864, he and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in order to escape Union forces.[2]
Cooper studied law at Gainesville Academy, graduating in 1867. He was accepted into the Florida Bar in the same year, and began a private practice in St. Augustine, Florida.[3]
Political career
editIn 1880, Cooper, a Democrat, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing St. John's County. He served until 1884, when he was elected to the Florida Senate from St. John's County.[2]
State Attorney General
editOn January 13, 1885, Cooper was appointed as the 15th Florida Attorney General by Governor Edward A. Perry. Cooper served until 1889 when his term expired.[4] Later that year, he was one of three commissioners appointed to revise the state's statutes.[3]
Congress
editIn 1892, the Democratic U.S. Representative from Florida's 2nd district, Robert Bullock, did not seek reelection. Cooper successfully received the Democratic nomination and defeated his opponent, Populist State Representative Austin S. Mann, with 76% of the vote.[5][6] Cooper successfully sought reelection in 1894, defeating Populist Montholom Atkinson with 80% of the vote. The Republican Party did not nominate any candidates in either of the races.[7]
Retirement from House
editCooper did not run for reelection in 1896 and returned to his private practice in Jacksonville.[2]
Personal life
editIn 1880, Cooper married Rosa Leonardi. They had two children, Charles Philip and James Jackson Gignilliat.[2]
Death
editCooper died in Jacksonville on November 14, 1923.
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles Merian Cooper (inc.) | 9,229 | 79.82% | +3.85% | |
| Populist | Montholom Atkinson | 2,334 | 20.19% | −3.85% | |
| Majority | 6895 | 59.63% | +7.70% | ||
| Turnout | 11,563 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles Merian Cooper | 14,668 | 75.97% | +17.22% | |
| Populist | Austin S. Mann | 4,641 | 24.04% | N/A | |
| Majority | 10,027 | 51.93% | +34.42% | ||
| Turnout | 19,309 | ||||
References
edit- ^ "CHARLES MERIAN COOPER | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ a b c d Naev, Nancy Rayburn (May 17, 2008). "Duval County FlArchives Biographies.....COOPER, CHARLES M." USGenWeb Archives. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ a b "COOPER, Charles Merian - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ "Florida Attorney General - Florida Attorneys General (1845 - )". myfloridalegal.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 02 Race - Nov 08, 1892". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ "A Guide to the Austin Shuey Mann Papers". www.library.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 02 Race - Nov 06, 1894". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- ^ "1894 FL - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ "1892 FL - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress