Background
Bryan, Charles Page was born on October 2, 1856 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Honorary Thomas Barbour and Jane Byrd (Page) Bryan.
Bryan, Charles Page was born on October 2, 1856 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Honorary Thomas Barbour and Jane Byrd (Page) Bryan.
Educated University of Virginia, 1877-1879. Bachelor of Laws, Columbian (now George Washington University, 1879. Admitted to bar, 1878.
Unmarried.
Resided in Colorado, 1879-1884. Member Colorado House of Representatives, 1880. Colonel on staff Governor Eaton of Colorado, 1884.
Made 2 tours of Europe for Chicago Exposition, 1891, 1892.
Member Illinois House of Representatives, 1888-1897. Colonel on staffs of governments Fifer, Oglesby and Altgeld, of Illinois, 1887-1896.
Envoy Extraordinary anu Minister Plenipotentiary to China, 1897-1898, to Brazil, 1898-1902, to Switzerland, 1902-1903, to Portugal, 1903-1909, to Belgium, 1909-1911. A.E and P. to Japan, August 12, 1911-November 1912.
He received his preparatory education in that city, subsequently becoming a student at the University of Virginia and later taking his degree in law at Columbian University (now George Washington University), Washington, District of Columbia From 1879 to 1883 he practiced his profession in Colorado and also took an active part in politics, being elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1880. In 1883 he returned to his former home, Chicago, where he soon became a leader in State politics. His diplomatic career really began in 1897, when he was appointed minister to China by President William McKinley.
The following year he received the appointment as envoy to Brazil.
In this role, he laid the firm foundation for the cordial relations between the United States and Brazil. In 1902 he was transferred to Switzerland, but in a few months thereafter (January 1903) he was given the more important post of minister to Portugal, where he remained for six years.
In 1909 he was transferred as minister to Belgium, and after serving two years became ambassador to Japan. He retired from the diplomatic service in 1912, and later made his home in Washington and Chicago, dividing his time between the two cities.
He died in Washington, District of Columbia, March 12, 1918.
He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1888 to 1897 and also served on the staffs of three successive governors of the State, in each instance with the rank of colonel. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, of the Society of Foreign Wars, a veteran of the Spanish–American War, and was a member of leading clubs in New York, Washington, and Chicago.