Charles Merian Cooper

Charles Merian Cooper (January 16, 1856 – November 14, 1923) was an American attorney and politician who served two terms as a U.S. representative from Florida from 1893 until 1897.

Early life and education Cooper was born on January 16, 1856, in Athens, Georgia. His father, Charles Phillip Cooper, served as a United States Treasury Department agent until the American Civil War, when he was appointed to help organize the Confederate States Treasury Department. In 1864, he and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in order to escape Union forces.

Cooper studied law at Gainesville Academy, graduating in 1867. He was accepted into the Florida Bar in the same year, and began a private practice in St. Augustine, Florida.

Political career In 1880, Cooper, a Democrat, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing St. John's County. He served until 1884, when he was elected to the Florida Senate from St. John's County. Later that year, he was one of three commissioners appointed to revise the state's statutes. Cooper successfully sought reelection in 1894, defeating Populist Montholom Atkinson with 80% of the vote. The Republican Party did not nominate any candidates in either of the races.

Retirement from House Cooper did not run for reelection in 1896 and returned to his private practice in Jacksonville.