Charles Fletcher Johnson
Encyclopedia
Charles Fletcher Johnson (February 14, 1859 February 15, 1930) was a Democratic U.S. Senator
from Maine from 1911 until 1917.
, he attended the public schools and the Waterville Classical Institute. He graduated from Bowdoin College
, Brunswick, Maine, in 1879. He was the principal of the high school of Machias, Maine from 1881 to 1886. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1886 and commenced his practice as an attorney
in Waterville, Maine
. He married Abbie W. Britton on 21 December 1881.
Johnson ran for Governor of Maine
in 1892. He was elected Mayor of Waterville in 1893, but left that office in 1894 and again ran for Governor. He was not successful. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1904, and also stood for the Maine House of Representatives
in 1904. He was elected, and served in that body from 1905 until 1907.
Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate
in 1910 and served from March 4, 1911, until March 3, 1917. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1916. During his Senate term he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on National Banks, the U.S. Senate Committee on Fisheries, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Pensions.
Johnson was named as a judge
of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
in 1917. He served from 1917 until 1929, and assumed senior status
on April 30, 1929. His service as a judge terminated at his death.
Johnson died in St. Petersburg, Florida
on 15 February 1930. He was interred
in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Waterville.
Johnson was a member of the Unitarian Church
. He was associated with the Psi Upsilon
fraternity, and with the Freemasons
.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Maine from 1911 until 1917.
Biography
Born in Winslow, MaineWinslow, Maine
Winslow is a town and census-designated place in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, along the Kennebec River. The population was 7,743 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, he attended the public schools and the Waterville Classical Institute. He graduated from Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, Brunswick, Maine, in 1879. He was the principal of the high school of Machias, Maine from 1881 to 1886. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1886 and commenced his practice as an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Waterville, Maine
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
. He married Abbie W. Britton on 21 December 1881.
Johnson ran for Governor of Maine
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
in 1892. He was elected Mayor of Waterville in 1893, but left that office in 1894 and again ran for Governor. He was not successful. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1904, and also stood for the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
in 1904. He was elected, and served in that body from 1905 until 1907.
Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1910 and served from March 4, 1911, until March 3, 1917. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1916. During his Senate term he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on National Banks, the U.S. Senate Committee on Fisheries, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Pensions.
Johnson was named as a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Maine* District of Massachusetts...
in 1917. He served from 1917 until 1929, and assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on April 30, 1929. His service as a judge terminated at his death.
Johnson died in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
on 15 February 1930. He was interred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Waterville.
Johnson was a member of the Unitarian Church
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
. He was associated with the Psi Upsilon
Psi Upsilon
Psi Upsilon is the fifth oldest college fraternity in the United States, founded at Union College in 1833. It has chapters at colleges and universities throughout North America. For most of its history, Psi Upsilon, like most social fraternities, limited its membership to men only...
fraternity, and with the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
.