He was born near Hanover, Virginia in 1768. He was the son of James and Rebecca (Hudson) Tait and cousin of Henry Clay. The Taits, who were of Scotch ancestry, had emigrated to Virginia during the seventeenth century. James, a planter of some means, settled in Elbert County, Ga. , in 1783.
Education
Charles received some schooling in Virginia and in 1786-87 attended Wilkes Academy, Washington, Georgia.
Early in 1788 he entered Cokesbury College, Abingdon, Maryland, where in September he was made an instructor.
Career
He left Cokesbury in 1794, and, having read law while teaching, was admitted to the bar at Elberton, Georgia, in February 1795. A few weeks later he was made rector of Richmond Academy, Augusta, Georgia, where William H. Crawford became his associate.
He began the practice of law at Lexington, Georgia, in 1798, Crawford joining him as partner the following year. Both were soon drawn into the political feud which grew out of the Yazoo land frauds. Tait became a prominent figure in the faction known successively as the Jackson, Crawford, and Troup party, the leaders of which had opposed the Yazoo sales, and which embraced the planter, professional, and Virginian elements in the state. The opposing faction was led by John Clark. Tait's friendship for Crawford and his somewhat moody and sensitive nature involved him in a number of controversies with Clark men. In 1802, after considerable provocation, he challenged Peter Lawrence Van Allen. In the meantime, however, Van Allen insulted Crawford, Tait's second, who killed him in a duel.
From 1803 to 1809 Tait served as judge of the superior court for the western district of Georgia. He incurred the special enmity of Clark through the performance of official duties and in 1806 Clark memorialized the Georgia legislature, asking that Tait be impeached for official misconduct. Although Tait was exonerated, Clark later attacked him in pamphlets and in 1807 assaulted him with a horsewhip.
In 1809 he was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of John Milledge, a position which he held by reelection until March 3, 1819. His most conspicuous public service was rendered through untiring efforts in behalf of the navy during that critical period. Made a member of the Senate committee on naval affairs in 1812, he served as chairman from 1814 to 1818, in which capacity he secured an appropriation of $1, 000, 000 for the Navy. He aided in the formation of Alabama as a separate territory and in securing its admission to the Union. His Admission Bill made provision for a state university comparable with the best institutions of the country. Having offended his constituents by contending that he should be allowed a salary as representative, and having acquired a fortune through planting, he removed in 1819 to Claiborne, Monroe County, Alabama.
In May 1820 President Monroe appointed him first federal judge of the District of Alabama. Retiring in 1826, he devoted himself to planting on land he owned in Wilcox County and to scientific study. In 1828 he declined a mission to Great Britain. Soon after settling in Alabama Tait made known to the scientific world the "Claiborne beds, " one of the notable Eocene deposits of the country.
Achievements
Membership
His scientific acquirements won for him membership in the American Philosophical Society in 1827 and in 1832 he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Personality
During his youth he was thrown from a horse, receiving an injury to his leg which necessitated its amputation.
Connections
He was twice married: first, January 3, 1790, to Mrs. Anne (Lucas) Simpson, of Baltimore; second, in 1822, to Mrs. Sarah (Williamson) Griffin of Georgia.