Charles Paine

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Charles Paine
15^th Governor of Vermont
In office 1841 – 1843
Lieutenant(s)	Waitstill R. Ranney
Preceded by	Silas H. Jennison
Succeeded by	John Mattocks

Born	April 15, 1799
Died	July 6, 1853 Waco, Texas
Political party	Whig

Charles Paine (April 15, 1799 - July 6, 1853) was an American Whig politician. Paine was the son of a US Senator, a Harvard graduate (1820) and woolen mill owner. He moved to Northfield, Vermont in the early part of the nineteenth century to run the family woolen mill. He opearted this business until it was destroyed by fire in 1848. He had various other business interests including an hotel and a store, but he is most often remembered as the individual who brought railroads to Vermont. In Northfield, Paine held the offices of Town Selectman and Moderator of the Town Meeting. In his political life he was a member of the Vermont house from 1828 through 1829 and Governor of Vermont from 1841 until 1843.

Paine was president of the Vermont Central Railroad and built its headquarters in his home town of Northfield. In 1853 the Vermont Central Railroad went into bankruptcy due to over expansion and, in some cases, mismanagement. The railroad was placed under receivership and renamed the Central Vermont Railroad. Its headquarters were moved to St. Albans.

He died in Waco, Texas after three weeks of dysentery while helping the Southern Pacific Railroad choose a route. He is buried in Northfield, Vermont.