Charles C. Van Zandt
Encyclopedia
Early life
He was born in Newport, Rhode IslandNewport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, then studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1853. In 1863 he married Arazelia, daughter of the judge and poet Albert Gorton Greene
Albert Gorton Greene
Albert Gorton Greene was an American judge and poet.- Biography :...
.
Political career
In 1855, Van Zandt was elected City Solicitor of Newport and was chosen clerk of the state House of Representatives. In 1857, he was himself elected to the House. The following year, he became Speaker of the House. He was a State Senator from 1869 to 1870. He was a delegate to Republican National ConventionRepublican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from Rhode Island in 1868, Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1873 to 1875, and Governor of Rhode Island from 1877 to 1880.
One of his foremost concerns as a governor was to expand the state's educational system, especially for the literacy needs of the state's large, urban immigrant population.
He died in 1894 and was interment at Island Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island.