Charles A. Phelps

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Charles Abner Phelps
40th President of the
Massachusetts Senate
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives[5]
In office
1856–1856[1]
Preceded byDaniel C. Eddy
Succeeded byJulius Rockwell
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives[1]
In office
1855–1856[1]
Personal details
BornOctober 19, 1820
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
Political partyKnow Nothing,[1] Republican[1][2]
SpousePhoebe Harris[1][5]
ChildrenCharles Harris Phelps[5]
Alma materUnion College,[1] 1841;
Harvard Medical School, 1844
ProfessionPhysician[5]

Charles Abner Phelps (October 19, 1820 – April 27, 1902) was anAmerican medical doctor, diplomat, and politician, who served as a member, and the

Speaker, of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and as a member and the President of the Massachusetts Senate.[1][2][5]

Early life and education

Phelps was born to Dr. Abner Phelps and Delia Hubbell (Clark) Phelps

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5]

Family life

Phelps married Phoebe Harris of Albany, New York, she was the sister of U.S. Senator Ira 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 from Susan 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]

See also

  • 77th Massachusetts General Court (1856)
  • 78th Massachusetts General Court (1857)
  • 80th Massachusetts General Court (1859)

References

  1. ^
    Boston, Massachusetts
    : The Harvard Graduates' Magazine Association, p. 305
  2. ^
    Boston, Massachusetts
    : Alfred Mudge & Son Printers, p. 4
  3. Boston, Massachusetts
    : Dutton and Wentworth Son Printers, p. 4
  4. Boston, Massachusetts
    : Wright & Potter Printers, p. 4
  5. ^
    Boston, Massachusetts
    : E. O. Cockayne, p. 111
  6. ISBN 9781616207342
    .
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 40th President of the Massachusetts Senate
1859 – 1860 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
David McMurtie Gregg
 United States Consul at Prague
1877 – 1885 		Succeeded by


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