Charles Edward Coffin
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Coffin (July 18, 1841 – May 24, 1912) was an American industrialist and politician who lived his adult life in Maryland
. From there he served in the state House of Delegates and Senate, and was elected to the United States Congress
. He was born and raised in Boston and went to Maryland during the American Civil War.
, Coffin moved to Muirkirk, Maryland
, where he took charge of the local ironworks
. Coffin engaged in the manufacture of charcoal pig iron
, and subsequently became the owner of the Muirkirk blast furnace
s. After the war many of its laborers were freedmen, who founded an independent black Queen's Chapel and Burial Ground nearby in 1868. It became the center of an historic black community known as Rossville.
Later Coffin went into politics. He was elected as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from 1884 to 1886, and served in the Maryland State Senate
from 1890 to 1894. He was a state delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1892.
In 1894 he was elected from the fifth district of Maryland
as a Republican Party (US) to the Fifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Democrat Barnes Compton
. He was reelected on the same day to the Fifty-fourth Congress and served from November 6, 1894 to March 3, 1897.
He died in Muirkirk. He was interred in St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church Cemetery in Beltsville, Maryland
.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. From there he served in the state House of Delegates and Senate, and was elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He was born and raised in Boston and went to Maryland during the American Civil War.
Early life and education
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Coffin was descended from numerous long-settled elite New England families. He attended the Boston grammar and high schools.Career
In 1863 during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Coffin moved to Muirkirk, Maryland
Muirkirk, Maryland
Muirkirk is an unincorporated area in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. in the central part of the state.It is located along U.S. 1 between Beltsville and Laurel...
, where he took charge of the local ironworks
Ironworks
An ironworks or iron works is a building or site where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and/or steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e...
. Coffin engaged in the manufacture of charcoal pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
, and subsequently became the owner of the Muirkirk blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
s. After the war many of its laborers were freedmen, who founded an independent black Queen's Chapel and Burial Ground nearby in 1868. It became the center of an historic black community known as Rossville.
Later Coffin went into politics. He was elected as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
from 1884 to 1886, and served in the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
from 1890 to 1894. He was a state delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican 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...
in 1892.
In 1894 he was elected from the fifth district of Maryland
Maryland's 5th congressional district
Maryland's 5th congressional district comprises all of Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert Counties, as well as portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties. The district is currently represented by Democrat Steny Hoyer, the House Minority Whip....
as a Republican Party (US) to the Fifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Democrat Barnes Compton
Barnes Compton
Barnes Compton was a wealthy planter who became a politician at the state level before the Civil War. He was appointed as Maryland State Treasurer, serving 1872-1885. He was elected to the US House of Representatives from the fifth congressional district of Maryland...
. He was reelected on the same day to the Fifty-fourth Congress and served from November 6, 1894 to March 3, 1897.
He died in Muirkirk. He was interred in St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church Cemetery in Beltsville, Maryland
Beltsville, Maryland
Beltsville is a census-designated place in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.-Geography:...
.