Charles Humphrey

For the United States Army general, see Charles F. Humphrey.

Humphrey wearing the uniform of a captain in the US Army in the War of 1812.

Charles Humphrey (February 14, 1792 – April 17, 1850), was an American lawyer and politician who served as United States Representative from New York.

Life

He was born in Little Britain, Orange County, New York, but moved to Newburgh, New York, at an early age and attended the Newburgh Academy. Then he studied law. He entered the United States Army at the beginning of the War of 1812 as First Sergeant of Newburgh Company Number Five. He was commissioned a captain in the Forty-first Regiment, United States Infantry, on August 15, 1813. After the war he resumed the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in Newburgh, New York on January 11, 1816. He moved to Ithaca, New York in 1818, and engaged in the practice of law.

Humphrey was elected as an Adams candidate to the Nineteenth Congress, and served from March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1827.

He served as president of the village of Ithaca in 1828 and 1829. He was elected Surrogate of Tompkins County, New York, and served from March 4, 1831, to January 8, 1834.

He was a member from Tompkins County of the New York State Assembly from 1834 to 1836, when he was active in studying prison reform as well as education, and in 1842, and was Speaker in 1835 and 1836.

He was appointed clerk of the New York Supreme Court in 1843 and held that position until 1847.

Humphrey married Ann Eliza Belknap (1797–1861) in Newburgh, New York in 1916. The couple had seven children, three of whom survived to adulthood: William Ross Humphrey (1820–1901), Charles D. Humphrey (1832–1870), and Sarah B. Humphrey Judd (1835–1904).

He died in Albany, Albany County, New York, and was buried at the City Cemetery in Ithaca, N.Y.

Charles Humphrey is the namesake of Humphrey, New York.

References

• Charles Humphrey at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009-5-16
• [1] Political Graveyard
• [2] Google Books = John Stilwell Jenkins: History of Political Parties in the State of New-York (Alden & Markham, Auburn NY, 1846)

Selkreg, John H, Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York. Syracuse: D. Mason & Company, 1894.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Samuel Lawrence	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th congressional district 1825–1827	Succeeded by David Woodcock
Political offices
Preceded by William Baker, Jr.	Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1835–1836	Succeeded by Edward Livingston