Charles Payson of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, was a United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 diplomat. He served as United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Third Assistant Secretary of State from June 22, 1878 to June 30, 1881. In 1881, United States Secretary of State

United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...

 James G. Blaine

James G. Blaine

James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...

 removed Payson from office so that his son, Walker Blaine

Walker Blaine

-Biography:Walker Blaine was born in Augusta, Maine on May 8, 1855, the son of James G. Blaine and Harriet Blaine. In 1876, he graduated from Yale College, where he was a member of Skull and Bones....

, could become Third Secretary. At that time, Payson became U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Denmark

United States Ambassador to Denmark

The first representative from the United States to Denmark was appointed in 1827 as a Chargé d'Affaires. There followed a series of chargés and ministers until 1890 when the first full ambassador was appointed...

, holding that office from August 12, 1881 to February 23, 1882. Payson's wife Fanny was the daughter of Governor of Wisconsin

Governor of Wisconsin

The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...

 Cadwallader C. Washburn

Cadwallader C. Washburn

Cadwallader Colden Washburn was an American businessman, politician, and soldier noted for founding what would later become General Mills and working in government for Wisconsin. He was born in Livermore, Maine, one of seven brothers that included Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, William D...

. After the ending of Payson's diplomatic duties in 1882, the Paysons lived mainly in Europe.