Charles Payson (May 2, 1837 – July 11, 1913), of

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, was a United States diplomat. He served as United States

Third Assistant Secretary of State Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) is a title used for many executive positions in the United States Department of State, ranking below the under secretaries. A set of six assistant secretaries reporting to the under secretary for political affairs ...

from June 22, 1878 to June 30, 1881. Payson was born in

Messina Messina (, also , ) is a harbour city and the capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of more than 219,000 inhabitants in ...

, Sicily on May 2, 1837. In 1881,

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...

James G. Blaine removed Payson from office so that his son,

Walker Blaine Walker Blaine (May 8, 1855 – January 15, 1890) was an official in the United States Department of State. Biography Walker Blaine was born in Augusta, Maine, on May 8, 1855, the son of James G. Blaine and Harriet (Stanwood) Blaine. In 1876, h ...

, could become Third Secretary. At that time, Payson became U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Denmark, holding that office from August 12, 1881 to February 23, 1882. After the ending of Payson's diplomatic duties in 1882, the Paysons lived mainly in Europe. Payson died at the in

Aix-les-Bains Aix-les-Bains (, ; frp, Èx-los-Bens; la, Aquae Gratianae), locally simply Aix, is a commune in the southeastern French department of Savoie.

, France on July 11, 1913. His remains were transported to

Vevey Vevey (; frp, Vevê; german: label=former German, Vivis) is a town in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne. The German name Vivis is no longer commonly used. It was the seat of the district of ...

, Switzerland, where he was buried. Payson's wife Fanny was the daughter of

Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wiscons ...

Cadwallader C. Washburn Cadwallader Colden Washburn (April 22, 1818May 14, 1882) was an American businessman, politician, and soldier who founded a mill that later became General Mills. A member of the Washburn family of Maine, he was a U.S. Congressman and governor o ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Payson, Charles 1837 births 1913 deaths United States Assistant Secretaries of State Ambassadors of the United States to Denmark 19th-century American diplomats