"Senator Culberson" redirects here. For similarly named people, see Senator Culbertson.

Charles Allen Culberson (June 10, 1855 – March 19, 1925) was an American political figure and Democrat who served as the 21st Governor of Texas from 1895 to 1899, and as a United States senator from Texas from 1899 to 1923.

Early life and education

Culberson was born to Democratic politician David Browning Culberson and Eugenia Culberson and on June 10, 1855 in Dadeville, Alabama. Culberson's family moved to Texas in 1856, settling first in Gilmer and later in Jefferson.

Culberson attended Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1874, and subsequently studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1876 and 1877. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar in Daingerfield, Texas, and commenced practice in Jefferson, later moving to Dallas in 1887.

Political career

Culberson's former residence (right) in Washington, D.C.

Texas state politics

Culberson's political career began with his election as Attorney General of Texas in 1890, a position he held until 1895, after campaigning for and winning the governor's race in November 1894. After two terms as governor, he was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat on January 25, 1899.

Senate tenure

Early during his tenure, he served on the Lodge Committee investigating war crimes in the Philippine–American War. Later, he chaired several senate committees, including the judiciary committee, which he chaired from 1913 to 1919. Culberson was opposed to demands for racial equality, stating that efforts to do so would lead to the "consequent debasement, degradation or destruction of the white race".[1]

Culberson was reelected in 1905, 1911, and, again, by popular vote in 1916, when health problems and alcoholism prevented him from campaigning in Texas but did not prevent his reelection. However, his health and opposition to the Ku Klux Klan finally led to the loss of his seat in the Democratic primary in 1922.[2]

He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Earle Bradford Mayfield, the outgoing member of the Texas Railroad Commission.[3]

Sallie Harrison Culberson and daughter Mary

Death and legacy

Culberson lived in retirement until his death from pneumonia in Washington, D.C. on March 19, 1925. He is buried in East Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.

Culberson was a distant cousin of John Culberson, who represented Texas' 7th congressional district between 2001 to 2019.

References

  1. ^ Glasrud, Bruce A. (1977). "Child or Beast?: White Texas' View of Blacks, 1900-1910". Stephen F. Austin State University. p. 38. Archived from the original on 2021-10-05.
  2. ^ TSHA Online – Texas State Historical Association – Home at www.tshaonline.org
  3. ^ "The Election Case of George E. B. Peddy v. Earle B. Mayfield of Texas (1925)". senate.gov. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Texas
1891–1895 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas
1894, 1896 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
1907–1909 		Succeeded by
First Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Texas
(Class 1)
1916 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Texas
1895–1899 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Texas
1899–1923
Served alongside: Horace Chilton, Joseph Bailey, Rienzi Johnston, Morris Sheppard 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Library Accommodations Committee
1909–1911 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Public Health Committee
1911–1913 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
1912–1919 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Private Land Claims Committee
1919–1921 		Position abolished