Charles B. Mitchel

Charles Burton Mitchel
United States Senator
from Arkansas
In office
March 4, 1861 – July 11, 1861
Preceded by Robert W. Johnson
Succeeded by Benjamin F. Rice
Personal details
Born September 19, 1815(1815-09-19)
Gallatin, Tennessee
Died September 20, 1864(1864-09-20) (aged 49)
Little Rock, Arkansas
Political party Democratic

Charles Burton Mitchel (September 19, 1815 – September 20, 1864) was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the U.S. Senate in 1861 and in the Confederate States Senate from 1861 until his death.

Biography

Mitchel was born in Gallatin, Tennessee on September 19, 1815, and attended the common schools; he graduated from the University of Nashville in 1833, and received his graduate degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia in 1836. He then moved to Washington, Arkansas, where he practiced medicine for twenty-five years. He was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for one year, 1848, and was appointed receiver of public moneys in 1853, serving in this capacity until 1856. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress in 1860, but was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4 until July 11, 1861, when he was expelled for supporting the Confederacy. Mitchel was elected to the Confederate Senate at the first session of the state legislature; he served until his death in Little Rock, Arkansas, on September 20, 1864. His body was returned to his home in Washington, Arkansas, where he was buried.

References

United States Senate
Preceded by
Robert W. Johnson
United States Senator (Class 3) from Arkansas
March 4, 1861 – July 11, 1861
Succeeded by
Benjamin F. Rice
Confederate States Senate
New institution Confederate States Senator from Arkansas
February 18, 1862 – September 20, 1864
Served alongside: Robert W. Johnson
Succeeded by
Augustus H. Garland
Notes and references
1. Because of Arkansas's secession, the Senate seat was vacant for seven years before Rice succeeded Mitchel.