Charles Allen Culberson

Charles Allen Culberson (June 10, 1855  March 19, 1925) was an American political figure and Democrat who served as the 21st Governor of Texas from 1895 to 1899, and as a United States Senator from Texas from 1899 to 1923.

Charles Culberson
Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus
In office
December 1907  December 1909
Preceded byJoseph Clay Stiles Blackburn
Succeeded byHernando Money
United States Senator
from Texas
In office
March 4, 1899  March 3, 1923
Preceded byRoger Q. Mills
Succeeded byEarle B. Mayfield
21st Governor of Texas
In office
January 15, 1895  January 17, 1899
LieutenantGeorge Taylor Jester
Preceded byJim Hogg
Succeeded byJoseph D. Sayers
Attorney General of Texas
In office
January 20, 1891  January 15, 1895
GovernorJim Hogg
Preceded byJim Hogg
Succeeded byMartin McNulty Crane
Personal details
Born
Charles Allen Culberson

(1855-06-10)June 10, 1855
Dadeville, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMarch 19, 1925(1925-03-19) (aged 69)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Sally Harrison
EducationVirginia Military Institute (BS)
University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Culberson was born to Eugenia and David Browning Culberson in Dadeville, Alabama, but in 1856 his family moved to Texas, settling first in Gilmer and later in Jefferson. He attended Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1874, and subsequently studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1876 and 1877. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar in Daingerfield, Texas, and commenced practice in Jefferson. He moved to Dallas in 1887.

Culberson's former residence (right) in Washington, D.C.

Culberson's political career began with his election as Attorney General of Texas in 1890, a position he held until 1895, after campaigning for and winning the governor's race in November 1894. After two terms as governor, he was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat on January 25, 1899. Early during his tenure, he served on the Lodge Committee investigating war crimes in the Philippine–American War. Later, he chaired several senate committees, including the judiciary committee, which he chaired from 1913  1919.

Culberson was reelected in 1905, 1911, and, again, by popular vote in 1916, when health problems and alcoholism prevented him from campaigning in Texas but did not prevent his reelection. However, his health and opposition to the Ku Klux Klan finally led to the loss of his seat in the Democratic primary in 1922.[1] He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Earle Bradford Mayfield, the outgoing member of the Texas Railroad Commission. Mayfield won a two-to-one general election victory over the Independent write-in candidate, George Peddy, a former state representative from Shelby County.[2]

Culberson lived in retirement until his death from pneumonia in Washington, D.C. on March 19, 1925. He is buried in East Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.

Culberson was a distant cousin of John Culberson, who represented Texas' 7th congressional district.

References

Legal offices
Preceded by
Jim Hogg
Attorney General of Texas
1891–1895
Succeeded by
Martin McNulty Crane
Party political offices
Preceded by
Jim Hogg
Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas
1894, 1896
Succeeded by
Joseph D. Sayers
Preceded by
Joseph Clay Stiles Blackburn
Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
1907–1909
Succeeded by
Hernando Money
First Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Texas
(Class 1)

1916
Succeeded by
Earle Bradford Mayfield
Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Hogg
Governor of Texas
1895–1899
Succeeded by
Joseph D. Sayers
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Roger Q. Mills
U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Texas
1899–1923
Served alongside: Horace Chilton, Joseph Bailey, Rienzi Johnston, Morris Sheppard
Succeeded by
Earle B. Mayfield
Preceded by
Hernando Money
Chair of the Senate Library Accommodations Committee
1909–1911
Succeeded by
Joseph Weldon Bailey
Preceded by
Thomas S. Martin
Chair of the Senate Public Health Committee
1911–1913
Succeeded by
Joseph E. Ransdell
Preceded by
Clarence D. Clark
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
1912–1919
Succeeded by
Knute Nelson
Preceded by
Knute Nelson
Chair of the Senate Private Land Claims Committee
1919–1921
Position abolished
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