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Charles Terry Saxton (July 2, 1846 inClyde,Wayne County, New York – October 23, 1903 inRochester,Monroe County, New York) was an American lawyer and a Republicanpolitician fromNew York.
He was the son of Daniel Saxton and Eliza A. Saxton. He was educated at the Clyde High School. He was a member of the Young Men's Debating Club in Cortland (which later became theDelphic Fraternity.)
In 1861, he joined the 19th Regiment of New York Volunteers, and finished theAmerican Civil War as amajor. He fought in theRed River Campaign and in theBattle of Port Hudson. Afterwards he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He was aJustice of the Peace, and President of the Village of Clyde.
He was an alternate delegate to the1884 Republican National Convention, and a delegate to the1900 Republican National Convention.
He was a member of theNew York State Assembly (Wayne Co., 1st D.) in1887,1888 and1889. In 1888, as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he took charge of the Ballot Reform Bill and secured its passage in both Assembly and Senate, but it wasvetoed by Gov.David B. Hill. The next year, he had the bill passed again, but it was vetoed again by Hill.
He was a member of theNew York State Senate from 1890 to 1894, sitting in the113th,114th,115th,116th (all four 28th D.) and117th New York State Legislatures (26th D.); and wasPresident pro tempore in 1894. In 1890, considering the governor's objections, he made a few changes to the Ballot Reform Bill and had it passed again, and it was finally enacted. He also was largely instrumental for theElectric Execution Bill to be passed and enacted. In 1891, he was appointed Chancellor ofUnion College, and the College awarded him thehonorary degree ofLL.D.
In the session of 1892, he made a strong but unsuccessful fight against the re-apportionment of the state, and for his refusal to vote on an enumeration bill (voting reapportionment) he and two other senatorswere declared guilty of contempt by Lt. Gov.William F. Sheehan and their names taken from the roll. But they were supported by the judiciary committee in their position, were purged of contempt and their names restored.[1][2]
He was theLieutenant Governor of New York from 1895 to 1896, elected on theRepublican ticket withLevi P. Morton at theNew York state election, 1894. On November 19, 1896, his wife Helen M. Saxton died at Clyde.
On March 30, 1897, he was appointed one of the first judges of theNew York Court of Claims, to take office on January 1, 1898, for a six-year term. Until the end of 1897, this body had been the Board of Claims, with three commissioners. He was chosen Chief Judge, and died in office.
Because of his failing health, he went in late 1903 toClifton Springs, New York, but did not get better. After several weeks, he entered the City Hospital at Rochester, and died a week later.
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Wood | New York State Assembly Wayne County, 1st District 1887–1889 | Succeeded by John P. Bennett |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 28th District 1890–1893 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 26th District 1894 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | President pro tempore of the New York State Senate 1894 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of New York 1895–1896 | Succeeded by |
