Charles Stewart Todd | |
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| United States Ambassador to Russia | |
| In office November 28, 1841 – January 27, 1846 | |
| Preceded by | Churchill C. Cambreleng |
| Succeeded by | Ralph I. Ingersoll |
| 11th Secretary of State of Kentucky | |
| In office 1816 | |
| Preceded by | Martin D. Hardin |
| Succeeded by | John Pope |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Stewart Todd (1791-01-22)January 22, 1791 Danville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 1871(1871-05-17) (aged 80) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Letitia Shelby |
| Relations | Thomas Todd (father) |
| Alma mater | College of William and Mary Litchfield Law School |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1812–1815 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
Charles Stewart Todd (January 22, 1791 – May 17, 1871) was an American military officer, government official and United States diplomat, serving as ambassador to Russia during the mid-19th century.
Todd was the son ofSupreme Court Associate JusticeThomas Todd and his first wife, Elizabeth Harris. He was born nearDanville, Kentucky, and continued to reside here through his childhood and adult life. Todd briefly attendedTransylvania University before his transfer and graduation at theCollege of William and Mary in 1809. He briefly studied law with his father inWashington before attendingLitchfield Law School. After his admission to the bar in 1811, he started his practice inLexington, Kentucky.[1]
Shortly after, he volunteered in theWar of 1812 where he was asubaltern and judge-advocate of GeneralJames Winchester's division in the War of 1812. In 1813, he was made a captain of infantry, and was an aide to GeneralWilliam Henry Harrison in theBattle of the Thames. In 1815, he became Inspector-General of the Michigan Territory underGeneral Duncan McArthur who commissioned him with the rank ofcolonel. Shortly thereafter, Todd returned to Kentucky to establish a legal practice in the state capital ofFrankfort where his diplomatic and political career began to expand. On June 18, 1816, he married the youngest ofGovernor Isaac Shelby's daughters, Letitia, with whom he had 12 children.[2]
He served as a state representative in the year following his return to Kentucky in 1816, he was appointedSecretary of State of Kentucky. In 1820, Todd was appointed a Confidential Agent toGran Colombia, where he would remain until 1824. US. PresidentJames Monroe offered Todd a position to the secretaryship of the delegation to Colombia in 1823, but he declined the offer. He instead went to retire inShelby County, Kentucky, where he worked on his farm and took up writing.[1]
Todd came out of his retirement upon being appointed Minister to Russia. From 1841 to 1846 he served as the fifteenthUnited States Ambassador to Russia during the entirety ofPresident Tyler's administration. He then went back to his retirement in 1846 and spent his time raising livestock and writing. He refused a later nomination forGovernor of Kentucky, but remained politically active duringZachary Taylor's presidential campaign of 1848. He took interest in writing and in the state ofTexas and its railroad system.[citation needed] He served as an editor of theLouisville Industrial and Commercial Gazette and theCincinnati Republican.
Todd died in 1871 from pneumonia, inBaton Rouge, Louisiana at the home of his son-in-law Judge Posey.[1] He was buried atRosehill Elmwood Cemetery inOwensboro, Kentucky.
This entry incorporates text from the public domainHarper's Encyclopedia of United States History, originally published in 1905.
 Russian Empire(1780–1917) | |
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| Russian Federation (1991–present) | |
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