Charles Nichols Spencer

Charles Nichols Spencer (1837 – March 6, 1893) was the Ministrer of Finance for the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He was one of Kalākaua's Cabinet Ministers at the time of the king's January 20, 1891 death, and the longest hold-over into Liliʻuokalani's Cabinet Ministers, serving June 17, 1890 – Sept 12, 1892.

Charles Nichols Spencer
Kingdom of Hawaii
Minister of the Interior
In office
June 17, 1890 – September 12, 1892
MonarchKalākaua
Liliʻuokalani
Preceded byLorrin A. Thurston
Succeeded byCharles T. Gulick
Personal details
Born1837
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Died(1893-03-06)March 6, 1893
Honolulu
NationalityAmerican
Spouse(s)Annie E. Brown
ResidenceHawaii
OccupationMerchant
Signature

Background

Born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, in 1853 he joined his brother Thomas in Hilo in the ship chandler trade.[1] On the island of Hawaii, Charles and Thomas ran a general mercantile store, operated a sugar cane business, and engaged in the exporting of sugarcane and pulu.[2][3]

The 7.9 magnitude 1868 Hawaii earthquake, also referred to as "The Great Ka`u Earthquake", occurred near the southern tip of the island of Hawaii.[4] It triggered landslides, volcanic eruptions and a tsunami, destroying the economy on the island.[5] As a result, the Spencer brothers relocated to Honolulu and continued in the mercantile trade.

Charles eventually formed a partnership with John Smith Walker and William G. Irwin, a business associate of Claus Spreckels, to operate the Hilea Sugar Plantation. The plantation was sold in 1879.[6]

Government service

During the reign of Kamehameha V, Spencer was appointed Commissioner of Fences. In 1875, he was appointed to the Private Ways and Water Rights Commission, as well as the Tax Appeal Board.[7] Kalākaua appointed him Inspector-General of Immigrants with the Board of Immigration in 1887.[8] In 1892, he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands.[9]

Kalākaua installed a new cabinet on July 17, 1890, naming Spencer to replace Lorrin A. Thurston as Minister of the Interior.[10] When Kalākaua died on January 20, 1891, Spencer remained in the cabinet post under Liliʻuokalani until September 12, 1892.[11]

Personal life and death

He died March 6, 1893, and was survived by his wife Annie E. Brown.[3]

He was a right royal entertainer and had an agreeable and unaffected manner, and a stranger forming his acquaintance was at once made to feel at ease ... He was in all things a gentleman.

— obituary, The Hawaiian Gazette[3]

References
  1. "Thomas Spencer Ship Chandler". Polynesian. August 23, 1862. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  2. "C. N. Spencer & Co. partnership expired 1864". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. October 15, 1864. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  3. "Charles Nichols Spencer obit Mar 14, 1893". The Hawaiian Gazette. March 14, 1893. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  4. "The Great Ka`u Earthquake of 1868". USGS. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  5. "FROM THE VOLCANO! 1868". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. April 11, 1868. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  6. "Plantation for Sale 1879". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. November 1, 1879. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  7. "Tax Appeal Board 1875". The Hawaiian Gazette. December 8, 1875. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  8. "Chas N. Spencer Inspector-General of Immigrants 1887". Evening Bulletin. May 11, 1887. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  9. "Spencer, Charles Nicholas office record" (PDF). state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. Kuykendall 1967, p. 461.
  11. Lydecker 1918, pp. 178,182, 299.

Bibliography
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