Charles B Penrose

Early life

Charles Bingham Penrose was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 6, 1798. He studied law and attained admission to the bar in 1821, afterwards establishing a practice in Carlisle.

Political career

A member of the Whig party who was identified as an Antimason, in 1833 Penrose was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate. He was reelected to a second term and served as Speaker of the Senate in 1838 and 1841.

In 1841 Penrose was appointed Solicitor of the Treasury in the William Henry Harrison administration.

After leaving the Solicitor's position at the close of the John Tyler administration in 1845 Penrose relocated to Philadelphia, where he continued to practice law.

In 1856 Penrose was again elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, this time as a Republican, and he served until his death.

During his second tenure in the State Senate, Penrose was accused of using bribes to arrange the election of Simon Cameron to the United States Senate, but nothing was proved and he was not charged with wrongdoing.

Death and legacy

Penrose died of pneumonia in Harrisburg on April 6, 1857. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. Another man of the same name, who died in 1875, is also buried at that same cemetery, and may be the commissary officer, Captain Charles B. Penrose, who accompanied President Abraham Lincoln as he toured City Point shortly before the fall of Richmond, Virginia.

Several of Penrose's grandsons became notable within their fields. Charles Bingham Penrose was a Philadelphia gynecologist who became widely known for his surgical skill. Boies Penrose became a U.S. Senator. Grandsons R.A.F. Penrose and Spencer Penrose also achieved distinction, the former for his geologic surveys and entrepreneurial activity in Texas, Arkansas and Colorado as well as founding of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the latter for founding many mining and financial companies in Colorado as well as the Pike's Peak Chapter of the American Red Cross.