Charles Allen Culberson
Encyclopedia
Charles Allen Culberson was an American political figure and Democrat
who served as the 21st Governor of Texas from 18951899, and as a United States Senator from Texas
from 18991923.
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 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 19131919.
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 didn't prevent his reelection. However, his health and opposition to the Ku Klux Klan
finally led to the loss of his seat in 1922.
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 current U.S. Representative John Culberson
, who represents .
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who served as the 21st Governor of Texas from 18951899, and as a United States Senator from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
from 18991923.
Culberson was born to Eugenia and David Browning Culberson in Dadeville, Alabama
Dadeville, Alabama
Dadeville is a city in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 3,212. The city is the county seat of Tallapoosa County.Dadeville is part of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, but in 1856 his family moved to Texas, settling first in Gilmer
Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer is also the name of a county in West Virginia.Gilmer is a town in and the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States. It is best known for being the birthplace of popular music singer Johnny Mathis. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census...
and later in Jefferson
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
. He attended Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
, graduating in 1874, and subsequently studied law at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
at Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
in 1876 and 1877. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar in Daingerfield, Texas
Daingerfield, Texas
Daingerfield is a city in Morris County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,517 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morris County....
, and commenced practice in Jefferson. He moved to Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
in 1887.
Culberson's political career began with his election as Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
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
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
on January 25, 1899. Early during his tenure, he served on the Lodge Committee investigating war crimes in the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. Later, he chaired several senate committees, including the judiciary committee, which he chaired from 19131919.
Culberson was reelected in 1905, 1911, and, again, by popular vote in 1916, when health problems and alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
prevented him from campaigning in Texas but didn't prevent his reelection. However, his health and opposition to the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
finally led to the loss of his seat in 1922.
Culberson lived in retirement until his death from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on March 19, 1925. He is buried in East Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
.
Culberson was a distant cousin of current U.S. Representative John Culberson
John Culberson
John Abney Culberson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party and the Tea Party caucus...
, who represents .