Charles Andrew Talcott

Charles Andrew Talcott (June 10, 1857 – February 27, 1920) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from New York in the early twentieth century. Over the course of two consecutive terms in Congress, he represented his constituents during a period of significant political and social change in the United States.

Talcott was born on June 10, 1857, in Oswego, New York. Details of his early family life are not extensively documented, but his upbringing in upstate New York placed him in a region experiencing rapid industrial and commercial development in the post–Civil War era. This environment helped shape his later interest in public affairs and municipal governance.

Talcott pursued higher education at Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey, from which he graduated in 1879. His education at Princeton provided him with a classical liberal-arts foundation and exposed him to contemporary debates in politics, economics, and public policy, preparing him for a career in civic leadership and public service.

After completing his education, Talcott established himself in New York and became active in local politics as a member of the Democratic Party. He rose to prominence in Utica, New York, where he was elected mayor. Serving as mayor of Utica from 1902 until 1906, he oversaw municipal affairs during a period marked by urban growth, modernization of city services, and the broader Progressive Era movement for governmental reform. His tenure as mayor enhanced his public profile and laid the groundwork for his subsequent election to national office.

Talcott was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1910. He entered Congress at the start of the 62nd Congress and served from March 4, 1911, until March 3, 1915. Over these two terms in office, he participated in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, which included debates over tariff reform, banking and currency legislation, and regulatory measures associated with the early years of the Woodrow Wilson administration. As a member of the House of Representatives, Charles Andrew Talcott contributed to the democratic process and represented the interests of his New York constituents, aligning with the Democratic Party’s priorities of the era. Within this span, he is also specifically recorded as having served one term from 1913 to 1915 in the 63rd Congress, reflecting the way some contemporary and later sources counted his service.

Following the conclusion of his congressional service in March 1915, Talcott returned to private life in New York. While detailed records of his later professional activities are limited, he remained identified with the Democratic Party and with the civic life of Utica, where he had earlier served as mayor and maintained longstanding community ties.

Charles Andrew Talcott died in Utica, New York, on February 27, 1920. He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery in Utica. His career, spanning municipal leadership and two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, reflected the trajectory of a locally rooted public servant who carried the concerns of his region to the national stage during a transformative era in American politics.