Charles Abner Phelps | |
|---|---|
| 40th President of the Massachusetts Senate[1] | |
| In office 1858–1858[1] | |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Upham |
| Succeeded by | William Claflin |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate[1] Fourth Suffolk Senate District[2] | |
| In office 1857–1858[1] | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Warren[3] |
| Succeeded by | George A. Shaw[4] |
| Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[5] | |
| In office 1856–1856[1] | |
| Preceded by | Daniel C. Eddy |
| Succeeded by | Julius Rockwell |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[1] | |
| In office 1855–1856[1] | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 19, 1820[2] |
| Died | April 27, 1902(1902-04-27) (aged 81) |
| Political party | Know Nothing,[1]Republican[1][2] |
| Spouse | Phoebe Harris[1][5] |
| Children | Charles Harris Phelps[5] |
| Alma mater | Union College,[1] 1841; Harvard Medical School, 1844 |
| Profession | Physician[5] |
Charles Abner Phelps (October 19, 1820 – April 27, 1902) was an American medical doctor, diplomat, and politician, who served as a member, and theSpeaker, of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and as a member and thePresident of the Massachusetts Senate.[1][2][5]
Phelps was born to Dr. Abner Phelps and Delia Hubbell (Clark) Phelps[5] on October 19, 1820[2] on Congress Street inBoston, Massachusetts.[5] Phelps attended the Mount Pleasant Classical School inAmherst, Massachusetts, where one of his classmates wasHenry Ward Beecher[5] Phelps then went on to study at theBoston Latin School and thenPhillips Academy inAndover, Massachusetts, he then studied with a private tutor inCambridge, Massachusetts to prepare himself forYale College.[5] Phelps attendedYale for a year then he transferred toUnion College where he graduated in 1841.[5] Phelps then attendedHarvard Medical School graduating in 1844, he did his post graduate work at theJefferson Medical College inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania.[5]
Phelps married Phoebe Harris ofAlbany, New York, she was the sister of U.S. SenatorIra Harris.[5] On September 14, 1845 their son Charles Harris Phelps was born.[5] Charles physically abused his wife and had her committed to an insane asylum following a confrontation about his extramarital affairs. Charles also attempted to deprive his wife of access to their children. Phoebe took her daughter and fled to a Quaker family but Charles tracked them down and brought them back, so Phoebe sought help fromSusan B. Anthony. Anthony spirited the mother and daughter out of town, working to find a safe and confidential place for them. Anthony faced backlash from prominent reformers including Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison. Massachusetts law gave entire guardianship over children to fathers, and Phillips and Garrison argued that Anthony should obey the law and stay out of the domestic dispute. Anthony refused to reveal Phoebe and her daughter's location. However, Charles was relentless and his agents eventually recaptured the daughter. Phoebe never saw her daughter again.[6]
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1856 – 1857 | Succeeded by |
| Massachusetts Senate | ||
| Preceded by Daniel Warren | Member of the Massachusetts Senate 4th Suffolk Senate District 1858 – 1860 | Succeeded by George A. Shaw |
| Preceded by | 40thPresident of the Massachusetts Senate 1859 – 1860 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Consul at Prague 1877 – 1885 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
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