Charles F. Curry

For other people with the same name, see Charles Curry (disambiguation).

Charles Forrest Curry (March 14, 1858 – October 10, 1930) was an American businessman and politician who served nine terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1913 until his death in 1930.

Charles Forrest Curry
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1913 – October 10, 1930
Preceded by	Joseph R. Knowland
Succeeded by	Charles F. Curry, Jr.
19th Secretary of State of California
In office January 4, 1899 – January 3, 1911
Governor	Henry Gage George Pardee James Gillett
Preceded by	Lewis H. Brown
Succeeded by	Frank C. Jordan
Member of the California State Assembly
In office 1887-1888
Personal details
Born	Charles Forrest Curry (1858-03-14)March 14, 1858 Naperville, Illinois, U.S.
Died	October 10, 1930(1930-10-10) (aged 72) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Abbey Mausoleum, later moved to National Memorial Park near Falls Church, Virginia
Political party	Republican

He was the father of Charles Forrest Curry, Jr.

Early life and education

Curry was born in Naperville, Illinois and attended the common schools and the Episcopal Academy in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He studied one year at the University of Washington in Seattle and was also educated by a private tutor. In 1872, he moved with his parents to Seattle, Washington and then to San Francisco the following year.

Career

There, Curry engaged in agricultural pursuits and the cattle, lumber and mining businesses. He served as a member of the State Assembly in 1887 and 1888. He became admitted to the bar of San Francisco in 1888 and was then the superintendent of Station B post office, San Francisco, from 1890 to 1894. After that Curry served as clerk of San Francisco city and county between 1894 and 1898. He was the Secretary of State of California from 1899 to 1910.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 1910. The following year, he was appointed Building and Loan Commissioner of California. In the same year, he served as the representative to the Panama–Pacific International Exposition for the Pacific Coast and Intermountain States.

Congress

Curry was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-third Congress. He served eight consecutive terms from March 4, 1913, until his death in Washington, D.C., October 10, 1930 at which point his son won his seat as a write-in candidate.

During his tenure as a Congressman, he served as chairman of the Committee on Territories (Sixty-sixth through Seventy-first Congresses).

Legacy

In 1921, Curry had a new elementary school named in his honor in Vallejo, California. Charles F. Curry school was located at 321 Wallace Avenue, and was in operation from 1921 until 1973. The grounds also housed Carol Vista, a school for handicapped and special needs students.

Burial

After his death, Curry was interred in Abbey Mausoleum (near Arlington National Cemetery), Arlington, Virginia. He was reinterred in National Memorial Park, Falls Church, Virginia.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References

• United States Congress. "Charles F. Curry (id: C001000)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Political Graveyard website

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress