Charles Whipple Comstock (October 9, 1858 – May 8, 1917) was an American attorney and judge who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut under two presidents.[1]

Charles W. Comstock
United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut
In office
1896–1900
PresidentGrover Cleveland
William McKinley
Preceded byGeorge P. McLean
Succeeded byFrancis H. Parker
Judge of Connecticut Probate Courts for Montville
In office
1889–1896
Personal details
Born
Charles Whipple Comstock

(1857-10-09)October 9, 1857
Montville, Connecticut
DiedMay 8, 1917(1917-05-08) (aged 59)
Montville, Connecticut
Political partyDemocratic

Early life

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Charles Whipple Comstock was born on October 9, 1857[2] in Montville, Connecticut, to Nathan Strickland and Caroline Mary (Whipple) Comstock.[3] His father's side descended from Reverend John Rogers (the martyr) and that side of the family emigrated to America in the mid 16th century from England. On his mother's side he descended from Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower. His father was a farmer and merchant, leading Charles to attend public schools and Norwich Free Academy.[4]

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Instead of College he wanted to go into law therefore he began studying under Lafayette S. Foster, and in 1881 he passed the bar and began practicing law in Norwich. He would work with Charles F. Thayer the former mayor of Norwich and George Parsons. In 1913 he had and won his first case before the United States Supreme Court in Robbins- Pattenson v Central Vermont Railroad.[4]

United States Attorney

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During President Cleveland's second term in office, he appointed Charles to be US Attorney for the district of Connecticut, a position he held for four years.[1]

Judgeship

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He had previously served as a probate judge in Montville from 1889 to 1896.[4]

Politics

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In 1914 he was in the race to be the democrat nominee for Governor of Connecticut. He spent years working with the Democrats attending multiple Democratic National Conventions.[4]

Masonry

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He was a 32nd degree Freemason.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "About the Office". www.justice.gov. 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  2. ^ "Charles Whipple Comstock (1857-1917) - Find A..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  3. ^ "Nathan Strickland Comstock b. 17 Feb 1836 Montville, New London, Connecticut d. 1918: Whipple Database". db.whipples.org. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  4. ^ a b c d e White, J.T. (1921). The National Cyclopedia of American Biography: Volume 17.