Charles Russell Codman

Charles Russell Codman (October 29, 1828 – October 5, 1918) was an American military officer and politician who served as commander of the 45th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.

Early life Codman was born on October 29, 1828, in Paris, France to Charles Russell and Anne (Macmaster) Codman. The Codman family history in Boston and Charlestown goes back to the 1640s. He was educated in private schools, including at one of William Augustus Muhlenberg's model schools on Long Island. He graduated from Harvard College in 1849 and thereafter studied law in the office of Charles G. Loring. Codman was admitted to the bar in 1852 and practiced for a short time before entering the business world.

Personal life On February 28, 1856, Codman married Lucy Lyman Paine Sturgis, daughter of Russell Sturgis, in Walton-on-Thames. Russell Sturgis Codman was the father of Russell S. Codman Jr. and Charles R. Codman.

The Codmans resided at the Col. Charles Codman Estate in Cotuit, Massachusetts, and spent their winters in Boston. Codman's Cotuit home was constructed in 1867 on Bluff Point. The Victorian Stick mansion was built by Charles L. Baxter based on John Hubbard Sturgis's plans for Andrew Lovell's Red House. Codman also resided for many years at 123 High Street in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Political career

Codman served on the Boston school committee in 1861 and 1862, in the Massachusetts Senate in 1864 and 1865, and in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1872 to 1875. He was the Republican nominee in the 1878 Boston mayoral election, but lost to Democrat Frederick O. Prince 52% to 47%. In 1884, Codman joined the Mugwump movement in support of Democrat presidential candidate Grover Cleveland due to his opposition to the Republican nominee James G. Blaine. The Democrats support of low tariffs led Codman to join the party for good and in 1890 he ran for the United States House of Representatives as an Independent Democrat.