Charles Merian Cooper

Charles Merian Cooper (January 16, 1856 – November 14, 1923) was an American attorney and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Florida from 1893 until 1897.[1]

Charles Merian Cooper
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	Robert Bullock
Succeeded by	Robert Wyche Davis
15th Florida Attorney General
In office January 13, 1885 – January 8, 1889
Governor	Edward A. Perry
Preceded by	George P. Raney
Succeeded by	William Bailey Lamar
Personal details
Born	January 16, 1856 Athens, Georgia
Died	November 14, 1923 (aged 67) Jacksonville, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Rosa Leonardi ​ (m. 1880)​
Children	2
Education	Gainesville Academy
Occupation	Attorney

Early life and education

Cooper was born on January 16, 1856 in Athens, Georgia. His father, Charles Phillip Cooper, served as a United States Treasury Department agent until the American Civil War, when he was appointed to help organize the Confederate States Treasury Department. In 1864, he and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in order to escape Union forces.[2]

Cooper studied law at Gainesville Academy, graduating in 1867. He was accepted into the Florida Bar in the same year, and began a private practice in St. Augustine, Florida.[3]

Political career

In 1880, Cooper, a Democrat, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing St. John's County. He served until 1884, when he was elected to the Florida Senate from St. John's County.[2] On January 13, 1885, Cooper was appointed as the 15th Florida Attorney General by Governor Edward A. Perry. Cooper served until 1889 when his term expired.[4] Later that year, he was one of three commissioners appointed to revise the state's statutes.[3]

In 1892, the Democratic U.S. Representative from Florida's 2nd district, Robert Bullock, did not seek reelection. Cooper successfully received the Democratic nomination and defeated his opponent, Populist State Representative Austin S. Mann, with 76% of the vote.[5][6] Cooper successfully sought reelection in 1894, defeating Populist Montholom Atkinson with 80% of the vote. The Republican Party did not nominate any candidates in either of the races.[7]

Cooper did not run for reelection in 1896 and returned to his private practice in Jacksonville.[2]

Personal life

In 1880, Cooper married Rosa Leonardi. They had two children, Charles Philip and James Jackson Gignilliat.[2]

Death

Cooper died in Jacksonville on November 14, 1923. He is buried in Jacksonville's St. Mary's Cemetery.[8]

Electoral history

1894 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Florida 2nd district[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Charles Merian Cooper (inc.)	9,229	79.82%	+3.85%
	Populist	Montholom Atkinson	2,334	20.19%	-3.85%
Majority			6895	59.63%	+7.70%
Turnout			11,563

1892 United States House of Representatives election in Florida
Florida 2nd district[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Charles Merian Cooper	14,668	75.97%	+17.22%
	Populist	Austin S. Mann	4,641	24.04%	N/A
Majority			10,027	51.93%	+34.42%
Turnout			19,309

References

1. "CHARLES MERIAN COOPER | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
2. Naev, Nancy Rayburn (May 17, 2008). "Duval County FlArchives Biographies.....COOPER, CHARLES M." USGenWeb Archives. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
3. "COOPER, Charles Merian - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
4. "Florida Attorney General - Florida Attorneys General (1845 - )". myfloridalegal.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
5. "Our Campaigns - FL - District 02 Race - Nov 08, 1892". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
6. "A Guide to the Austin Shuey Mann Papers". www.library.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
7. "Our Campaigns - FL - District 02 Race - Nov 06, 1894". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
8. "Charles Merian Cooper". Find a Grave. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
9. "1894 FL - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
10. "1892 FL - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 15, 2019.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.