Charles Milby Dale (March 8, 1893 – September 28, 1978) was an American
lawyer and
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...
from
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was the 66th
governor of New Hampshire
The governor of New Hampshire is the head of government of New Hampshire.
The governor is elected during the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Verm ...
, serving from 1945 to 1949.
Early career
Dale was born in 1893 in
Browns Valley, Minnesota
Browns Valley is a city in Traverse County, Minnesota, United States, adjacent to the South Dakota border. The population was 558 at the 2020 census.
Browns Valley lies along the Little Minnesota River between the northern end of Big Stone L ...
, on the
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
—
South Dakota
South Dakota (; Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a large porti ...
border. He attended the
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...
, and then the
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School is the law school of the University of Minnesota, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school confers four law degrees: a Juris Doctor (J.D.), a Master of Laws (LL.M.), a Master of Science in Patent L ...
; while in law school he served as Note Editor of the first volume of the ''
Minnesota Law Review
The ''Minnesota Law Review'' is a student-run law review published by students at University of Minnesota Law School. The journal is published six times a year in November, December, February, April, May, and June. It was established by Henry J. Fl ...
'' and graduated in 1917.
[Remember Charles Dale]
, ''Fletcher Files: Alumni Newsletter of the ''Minnesota Law Review', Accessed May 20, 2008. After law school he began a legal practice back in Brown's Valley, but upon the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
' entry into
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
he left to enlist in the United States Army. Dale was assigned to the
Coast Artillery Corps
The U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) was an administrative corps responsible for coastal, harbor, and anti-aircraft defense of the United States and its possessions between 1901 and 1950. The CAC also operated heavy and railway artillery ...
stationed in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
[History]
, The Governor's House, Accessed May 20, 2008.
Political career
After the war, Dale decided to remain in Portsmouth and open his legal practice there. He soon found his way into politics; he was first elected city solicitor in 1921 and later
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
from 1926 to 1928. He went back to legal practice but was elected in 1933 to the
state senate
A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...
, where he served as president. In 1937 he was elected to the
Executive Council of New Hampshire
The Executive Council of the State of New Hampshire (commonly known as the Governor's Council) is the executive body of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The Executive Council advises the Governor on all matters and provides a check on the governor ...
. He returned to the state senate, then again served at the Mayor of Portsmouth from 1943 to 1944. He entered the Governor's race and during the Republican
primary election defeated
incumbent
The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-ele ...
Governor
Robert Blood. Dale then went on to win the general election and win reelection for a second two-year term.
Dale retired from politics in 1948 to work in banking and radio in New Hampshire.
He died in 1978 in Portsmouth.
References
External links
Dale at New Hampshire's Division of Historic Resources
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dale, Charles M.
1893 births
1978 deaths
Republican Party governors of New Hampshire
Republican Party New Hampshire state senators
Members of the Executive Council of New Hampshire
Mayors of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Minnesota lawyers
Military personnel from Minnesota
United States Army soldiers
United States Army personnel of World War I
New Hampshire lawyers
Mayors of places in New Hampshire
University of Minnesota Law School alumni
People from Browns Valley, Minnesota
20th-century American politicians
20th-century American lawyers