Charles Skelton (April 19, 1806 – May 20, 1879) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

's 2nd congressional district in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from 1851 to 1855.

Biography

Skelton was born in

Buckingham Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Buckingham Township is a Township (Pennsylvania), township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 20,075 at the 2010 census. Buckingham takes its name from Buckingham in Buckinghamshire, England. History In Bucking ...

on April 19, 1806. He moved to

Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County, New Jersey, Mercer County. It was the federal capital, capital of the United States from November 1 until D ...

about 1829, where he attended the country schools and Trenton Academy.

Early career

He engaged in mercantile pursuits, and moved to

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

in 1835. He graduated from

Jefferson Medical College Thomas Jefferson University is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Established in its earliest form in 1824, the university officially combined with Philadelphia University in 2017. The university is ...

at Philadelphia in 1838 and commenced the practice of his profession in that city. He returned to Trenton in 1841, and was superintendent of the

Trenton Public Schools The Trenton Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Trenton, in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district is one of 31 former Abbott ...

in 1848.

Congress

He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses, serving in office from March 4, 1851 to March 3, 1855.

Later career and death

After leaving Congress, he was a member of the common council from 1873-1875. He died in Trenton on May 20, 1879, and was interred in City Cemetery in

Hamilton Square, New Jersey Hamilton Square is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Hamilton Township, in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, that is the site of a historic colonial village. Until the 2000 census the a ...

Family history

Skelton's uncle Abraham Doan was a member of the infamous Doan Outlaws, and was executed for his role as a Tory during the American Revolution. Skelton's grandfather Israel Doan was imprisoned for aiding the gang and probably died in jail."The Doane Family: I. Deacon John Doane, of Plymouth ; II. Doctor John Done, of Maryland, and Their Descendants, with Notes Upon English Families of the Name, Volume I" by The Doane Family Association of America

External links

Charles Skelton
at

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skelton, Charles 1806 births 1879 deaths Physicians from Pennsylvania Politicians from Philadelphia Politicians from Trenton, New Jersey Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey Thomas Jefferson University alumni 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives