Charles Naylor (October 6, 1806 – December 24, 1872) was an American lawyer and politician from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Mary ...

who served as a Whig party member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

for

Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district Pennsylvania's third congressional district includes several areas of the city of Philadelphia, including West Philadelphia, most of Center City, Philadelphia, Center City, and parts of North Philadelphia. It has been represented by Democratic Pa ...

from 1837 to 1841.

Early life and education

Naylor was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, Pennsylvania. At a young age he read John Neal's poem ''Battle of Niagara'' and became inspired by Neal's life. Years later as a member of Congress he met Neal and told him, "If the author of that poem...could do what he has done here, under so many disadvantages, why cannot I? ''I will!''...you were my inspiration, and for all that I now am, and all I hope to be hereafter, I am indebted to you." He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1828 and commenced practice in Philadelphia.

Career

He held several local offices, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election in

1836 Events January–March * January 1 – Queen Maria II of Portugal marries Prince Ferdinand Augustus Francis Anthony of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. * January 5 – Davy Crockett arrives in Texas. * January 12 ** , with Charles Darwin on board, re ...

to the Twenty-fifth Congress. He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Francis Jacob Harper. There were allegations of fraud during the election against Charles J. Ingersoll. Local election officials certified Ingersoll as the winner while state officials declared Naylor the winner. Both candidates claimed victory and appeared in Washington D.C. to claim the seat. Congress declared Naylor the winner by 775 votes and he was sworn into office. He was reelected to the Twenty-sixth Congress. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in

1840 Events January–March * January 3 – One of the predecessor papers of the ''Herald Sun'' of Melbourne, Australia, ''The Port Phillip Herald'', is founded. * January 10 – Uniform Penny Post is introduced in the United Kingdom. * Janua ...

. He resumed the practice of law. In 1844 Naylor was present at the Philadelphia Bible Riots of 1844. During the rioting in

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

he prevented militia under the command of Gen. George Cadwalader from firing on a group of nativist protesters. He was arrested for his actions, but later released without trial.The Philadelphia Bible Riots of 1844
/ref> During the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

, Naylor raised a company of volunteers known as the Philadelphia Rangers and served as captain. After the war he settled in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, and continued the practice of law. He returned to Philadelphia and practiced law until his death there in 1872. He is interred in

Laurel Hill Cemetery Laurel Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Founded in 1836, it was the second major rural cemetery in the United States after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts. The cemetery is ...

in Philadelphia.

References

External links

*
The Political Graveyard

''Speech of Charles Naylor, of Pennsylvania, on the Bill Imposing Additional Duties, as Depositaries, in Certain Cases, on Public Officers. Delivered in the House of Representatives, U.S., October 13, 1837''
1806 births 1872 deaths American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Politicians from Philadelphia Pennsylvania lawyers Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia) 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers {{Pennsylvania-Representative-stub