Charles Humphrey Atherton


Charles Humphrey Atherton, an American Federalist politician, banker and a distinguished attorney from New Hampshire.
Atherton served once as a United States Representative from New Hampshire from 1815-1817, but did not seek re-election. He was thrice elected to the state legislature and was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1823, 1838 and 1839.

Early life

Born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Atherton was the son of Joshua Atherton and Abigail 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.
He delivered a eulogy on George Washington, who died on December 14, 1799; at Amherst.
He was 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.
He was painted by artist Gilbert Stuart in Boston in 1823.
Atherton was a prominent figure in the local Unitarian movement, he later helped establish The Christian Society in Amherst.
After leaving the State House, he 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.
He prepared various papers for the New Hampshire Historical Society.
In his final years he published his father's memoirs titled “Memoir of the Hon Joshua Atherton“, published in 1852, by Crosby, Nichol and Company of Boston.

Death

Atherton died in Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, on January 8, 1853. He is interred at Old Cemetery in Amherst, New Hampshire, along with his wife Mary and five of their children. 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.
He became a widow after the passing of his wife Mary, who died on Oct 15th, 1817, just five months after childbirth and left four surviving children: James, Mary, George and Charles.
Atherton who had not sought re-election in 1816, is likely to have focused on his family's needs. He returned to politics, albeit at State level in 1823.

Descendants

The following 4 children died young:
All were laid to rest in the family grave at Old Cemetery, Amherst, NH.
The following children died after the death of Charles Humphrey Atherton:
One other child