Preceded by Samuel Smith Name Charles Atherton Succeeded by Nathaniel Upham Citizenship US Role Lawyer Resting place Amherst | Relations William Gordon Education Harvard University Children Charles G. Atherton Alma mater Harvard University Political party Federalist Party | |
Born August 14, 1773
Amherst, New Hampshire, U.S. ( 1773-08-14 ) Spouse(s) Mary Ann Toppan Atherton Profession Lawyer
Politician
Farmer
Banker Died January 8, 1853, Amherst, New Hampshire, United States | ||
Charles Humphrey Atherton (August 14, 1773 – January 8, 1853) was an American lawyer, banker and politician from New Hampshire. He served as a United States Representative from New Hampshire and as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives during the early 1800s.
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Early life
Born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Atherton was the son of Joshua and Abigail (Goss) Atherton. He graduated from Harvard University in 1794, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was admitted to the bar in 1797 and started practicing law in Amherst.
Career
He served as register of probate for Hillsborough County from 1798-1807. Elected as a Federalist candidate to the United States House of Representatives in the Fourteenth United States Congress, he served in Congress from March 4, 1815 to March 3, 1817. He declined to run for reelection in 1816 and instead served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1823-1839. A prominent figure in the local Unitarian movement, he later helped establish The Christian Society in Amherst.
After leaving the State House, Atherton resumed the practice of law and was one of the founders of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society. He was president of the board of directors of the Farmers' Bank when it was formed in 1825 and served during the existence of the corporation. He was a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.
Death
Atherton died in Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, on January 8, 1853 (age 79 years, 147 days). He is interred at Old Cemetery in Amherst, New Hampshire. He had accumulated one of the largest estates ever left in Amherst.
Personal life
On October 30, 1803, Atherton married Mary Ann Toppan. They had seven children, and their son Charles Gordon Atherton was a United States Senator. Atherton's brother-in-law William Gordon was also a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire.