Carlton Brandaga Curtis (December 17, 1811 – March 17, 1883) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district from 1851 to 1853 and the 24th district from 1853 to 1855. He then switched parties and later served again as a Republican member for the 19th district from 1873 to 1875.

Carlton Brandaga Curtis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
In office
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855
Preceded byJames Thompson
Succeeded byDavid Barclay
Constituency23rd district (1851–1853)
24th district (1853–1855)
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byGlenni W. Scofield
Succeeded byLevi Maish
Constituency19th district
Personal details
Born(1811-12-17)December 17, 1811
Madison County, New York, US
DiedMarch 17, 1883(1883-03-17) (aged 71)
Erie, Pennsylvania, US
Political partyRepublican (1855–1883)
Democratic (until 1855)
OccupationLawyer

Early life

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Curtis was born in Madison County, New York. He moved to Mayville, New York, and studied law. He moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he continued the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1834. He moved to Warren, Pennsylvania, in 1834 and commenced practice. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1836 to 1838.

First election to Congress

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Curtis was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Accounts during the Thirty-third Congress. He was affiliated with the Republican Party in 1855.

Civil War service

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Curtis entered the Union Army on February 13, 1862, as lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for a period of three years. He was promoted to colonel of that regiment on May 23, 1863. Because of illness was honorably discharged as colonel on July 2.

Post war activities

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He returned to Warren and practiced law. In 1868, he moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, and continued the practice of law. He was also interested in banking and the production of oil, and was one of the originators and builders of the Dunkirk & Venango Railroad.

Curtis was again elected as a Republican to the Forty-third Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874. He resumed the practice of law, and died in Erie in 1883.

See also

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References

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  • United States Congress. "Carlton B. Curtis (id: C001007)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on February 14, 2008
  • The Political Graveyard
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district

1851–1853
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 24th congressional district

1853–1855
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 19th congressional district

1873–1875
Succeeded by