Sketches of the Civil and Military Services of William Henry Harrison
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Charles Stewart Todd was an American military officer and government official.
Background
He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Harris) Todd. Charles was born on January 22, 1791 near Danville, Ky. , then a part of Virginia.
His father in his later years was associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Education
After attending Transylvania University (Lexington, Ky. ), Charles entered the College of William and Mary and was graduated in 1809.
He then studied law with his father in Washington, and later with James Gould and Tapping Reeve in Litchfield, Connecticut.
Career
Admitted to the bar in 1811, he began the practice of law in Lexington, Ky.
On the outbreak of the War of 1812 he volunteered, and was made acting quartermaster in the advance of the left wing of the Northwestern Army. He served on Gen. William H. Harrison's staff, his courage and intelligence winning him steady promotion until in March 1815 he was inspector general with the rank of colonel. When the army disbanded he resumed the practice of law at Frankfort, Ky.
He was secretary of state under Gov. George Madison for a short time in 1816 until the latter's death. In 1817 and 1818 he represented Franklin County in the Kentucky legislature. In February 1820 President Monroe appointed Todd diplomatic agent in Colombia, where he was to observe conditions with a view to guiding the United States government in its recognition policy; promote friendly relations between the two countries; press for the settlement of American claims against Colombia; and work for the withdrawal of discriminating tariffs against the United States. He carried out his duties in a conscientious manner, was friendly, but also realistic and unsentimental. Becoming convinced that Pedro Gual, Colombian secretary for foreign affairs, was unfairly prejudicing Colombian opinion against the United States, he appealed directly to acting-President Santander and other prominent Colombian officials. Gual was furious. He attacked Todd's integrity and wanted him recalled. Todd gained the confidence of the Colombian people, however, and President Monroe offered him an appointment as secretary of legation in Colombia in 1823. This he declined, and retiring to a farm in Shelby County, Ky. , became active in agricultural affairs.
President Tyler appointed him minister to Russia on August 27, 1841, which post he held throughout the administration. No outstanding issue arose during his residence at St. Petersburg. In 1846 he retired to his farm in Shelby County where he raised blooded stock and wrote numerous articles for magazines and newspapers.
He refused to become candidate for governor in 1848, but took an active part in the presidential campaign in behalf of Taylor. In 1850 he was appointed one of three commissioners to treat with Indian tribes on the Mexican border and drew up the final report. He became interested in the development of Texas resources, and was for a time a Texas railroad official. In his later years he was an editor of the Louisville Industrial and Commercial Gazette. At the beginning of the Civil War he offered his services at Washington, but they were declined.
He died of pneumonia at the home of his son-in-law, Judge Posey, in Baton Rouge, La.
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Politics
As a commissioner to the Presbyterian General Assembly he sustained the Old School when the separation of 1837 took place. In the presidential campaign of 1840 Todd supported General Harrison, making speeches, writing a campaign biography in collaboration with Benjamin Drake (Sketches of the Civil and Military Services of William Henry Harrison, 1840), and publishing the Cincinnati Republican. He accompanied Harrison to Washington for his inauguration, and was closely associated with him until his death.
Connections
On June 16, 1816, he married Letitia Shelby, youngest daughter of Gov. Isaac Shelby of Kentucky; twelve children were born to them.