Charles M. Dale
Encyclopedia
Charles Milby Dale was an American
lawyer
and Republican
politician
from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
; he was the seventy-sixth Governor of New Hampshire
, serving from 1945 to 1949.
, in the state's Red River Valley
between Minnesota
and North Dakota
. He attended the University of Minnesota
, and then the University of Minnesota Law School
; while in law school he served as Note Editor of the first volume of the Minnesota Law Review
and graduated in 1917. After law school he began a legal practice back in Brown's Valley, but upon the United States
' entry into World War I
he left to enlist in the United States Army. Dale was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps stationed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
.
from 1926 to 1928. He went back to legal practice but was elected in 1933 to the state senate
, where he served as president. In 1937 he was elected to the Executive Council of New Hampshire
. He returned to the state senate, then again served at the Mayor of Portsmouth from 1943 to 1944. He entered the Governor's race and during the Republican primary election
defeated incumbent
Governor Robert Blood
. Dale then went on to win the general election and win reelection for a second two-year term.
Dale retired from politics in 1948 to go on and work in banking and radio in New Hampshire. He died in 1978 in Portsmouth. He is buried at the Valley View Cemetery in his birth town of Browns Valley, Minnesota.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
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...
and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
; he was the seventy-sixth Governor of New Hampshire
Governor of New Hampshire
The Governor of the State of New Hampshire is the supreme executive magistrate of the U.S. state of New Hampshire.The governor is elected at the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Vermont, to hold...
, serving from 1945 to 1949.
Early career
Born in 1893 in Browns Valley, MinnesotaBrowns Valley, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 690 people, 285 households, and 171 families residing in the city. The population density was 878.5 people per square mile . There were 317 housing units at an average density of 403.6 per square mile...
, in the state's Red River Valley
Red River Valley
The Red River Valley is a region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North. It is significant in the geography of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba for its relatively fertile lands and the population centers of Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks, and Winnipeg...
between Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, and then the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
; while in law school he served as Note Editor of the first volume of the Minnesota Law Review
Minnesota Law Review
The Minnesota Law Review is a law review published by students at University of Minnesota Law School. The journal is published six times a year in November, December, February, April, May, and June. It was established by Henry J. Fletcher and William Reynolds Vance in 1917. The Minnesota Law...
and graduated in 1917. After law school he began a legal practice back in Brown's Valley, but upon the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' entry into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he left to enlist in the United States Army. Dale was assigned to the Coast Artillery Corps stationed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
.
Political career
After the war, Dale decided to remain in Portsmouth and open his legal practice there. He soon found his way into politics; he was first elected city solicitor in 1921 and later mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
from 1926 to 1928. He went back to legal practice but was elected in 1933 to the state senate
New Hampshire Senate
The New Hampshire Senate has been meeting since 1784. It is the upper house of the New Hampshire General Court. It consists of 24 members representing Senate districts based on population...
, where he served as president. In 1937 he was elected to the Executive Council of New Hampshire
Executive Council of New Hampshire
The Executive Council of the State of New Hampshire is the executive body of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The Executive Council advises the Governor on all matters and provides a check on the governor's power. New Hampshire is one of the few states that has an Executive Council, and is the...
. He returned to the state senate, then again served at the Mayor of Portsmouth from 1943 to 1944. He entered the Governor's race and during the Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
defeated incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Governor Robert Blood
Robert O. Blood
Robert Oscar Blood was an American physician and Republican politician from Concord, New Hampshire. He served in both houses of the New Hampshire legislature and two terms as Governor....
. Dale then went on to win the general election and win reelection for a second two-year term.
Dale retired from politics in 1948 to go on and work in banking and radio in New Hampshire. He died in 1978 in Portsmouth. He is buried at the Valley View Cemetery in his birth town of Browns Valley, Minnesota.