Charles Fisher (congressman)

Charles Fisher (October 20, 1789 – May 7, 1849) was an American politician and legislator from North Carolina who was twice elected U.S. Representative from his state.

Charles Fisher
Representative Charles Fisher
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 10th district
In office February 11, 1819 – March 3, 1821
Preceded by	George Mumford
Succeeded by	John Long
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 10th district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841
Preceded by	Abraham Rencher
Succeeded by	Abraham Rencher
Personal details
Born	October 20, 1789 Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	May 7, 1849 (aged 59) Hillsboro, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1839-1841)
Other political affiliations	Democratic-Republican (1819-1821)
Children	Charles Frederick Fisher

Biography

Born near Salisbury, North Carolina, Fisher was educated by private tutors in Raleigh, North Carolina, studied law and was admitted to the bar but did not practice to any extent. In 1818 Fisher became a member of the North Carolina Senate.[1][2]

Fisher was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George Mumford in Washington D.C. at the end of 1818. Reelected to the Sixteenth Congress, Fisher served from February 11, 1819, to March 3, 1821, and declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1820.

Returning from three years' experience in the federal legislature, Fisher was elected as a member of the State House of Commons from the Salisbury District in 1821 and served until 1836 (1822-1825 representing Rowan County). Fisher was Speaker of North Carolina House of Commons in the 1830-1831 and 1831-1832 sessions and served as member of the state constitutional convention in 1835.[3]

Fisher was returned to the Twenty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841), this time as a Democrat. Fisher was not a candidate for renomination in 1840 though he stayed politically active; he was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress.

Personal life

Fisher married Christiana Beard, daughter of another Salisbury attorney. The pair had four children, one boy who died in infancy, and two girls who both married and lived to adulthood. In 1816, a son was born, Charles Frederick Fisher, who also became a Rowan County political figure for many years and after whose death at the First Battle of Bull Run became the Confederate hero for whom Fort Fisher was eventually named.

The elder Fisher died in Hillsboro, Mississippi during a visit on May 7, 1849.

References

1. McFarland, Daniel M. (1986). "Charles Fisher". NCPedia. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
2. Rumple, Jethro (2008) [1881]. History of Rowan County, North Carolina, Containing Sketches of Prominent Families and Distinguished Men. Westminister, Maryland: Heritage Books [Daughters of the American Revolution. Elizabeth Maxwell Steele Chapter, Salisbury, N.C.] ISBN 978-0-7884-1203-5. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
3. Connor, R.D.D. (1913). A Manual of North Carolina (PDF). Raleigh: North Carolina Historical Commission. Retrieved April 27, 2019.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Charles Fisher (id: F000144)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.