Charles Sidney Baxter (August 27, 1866 – January 18, 1927) was an American politician who served as

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 a ...

Medford, Massachusetts Medford is a city northwest of downtown Boston on the Mystic River in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 59,659. It is home to Tufts University, which has its campus alo ...

Early life

Baxter was born on August 27, 1866, in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. He graduated from

The English High School The English High School of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, is one of the first public high schools in America, founded in 1821. Originally called The English Classical School, it was renamed The English High School upon its first relocation ...

in 1883 and went to work as a stenographer for the Metropolitan Street Railway. He later returned to school and graduated from

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

in 1892.

Legal career

Baxter served as an attorney for the West End Street Railway and later for the Boston Elevated Railway. He also served as an attorney for the Grand Trunk Railway during its effort to enter Boston. In 1915 he was nominated for the position of Medford city solicitor, but he was not confirmed by the city council.

Political career

Baxter served as Mayor of Medford from 1900 to 1904. In 1911, Baxter served as campaign manager for

Louis A. Frothingham Louis Adams Frothingham (July 13, 1871 – August 23, 1928) was a United States representative from Massachusetts. Early life Frothingham was born in Jamaica Plain on July 13, 1871. He attended the public schools and Adams Academy. He graduated ...

's gubernatorial campaign. Frothingham defeated John N. Cole and

Robert Luce Robert Luce (December 2, 1862 – April 7, 1946) was a United States representative from Massachusetts. Biography Born in Auburn, Maine, Luce attended the public schools of Auburn and Lewiston, Maine, and Somerville, Massachusetts. He gra ...

for the Republican nomination, but lost to

Eugene Foss Eugene Noble Foss (September 24, 1858 – September 13, 1939) was an American politician and manufacturer from Massachusetts. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives and served as a three-term governor of Massachusetts. E ...

in the general election. In 1915 he managed

Samuel W. McCall Samuel Walker McCall (February 28, 1851 – November 4, 1923) was a Republican lawyer, politician, and writer from Massachusetts. He was for twenty years (1893–1913) a member of the United States House of Representatives, and the 47th Governo ...

's victory over incumbent

David I. Walsh David Ignatius Walsh (November 11, 1872June 11, 1947) was an American politician from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 46th Governor of Massachusetts before serving several terms in the Unite ...

in the gubernatorial election. Baxter served as an advisor to McCall and was referred to as "the man behind" the Governor. In 1921, Baxter ran for

Mayor of Boston The mayor of Boston is the head of the municipal government in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston has a mayor–council government. Boston's mayoral elections are nonpartisan (as are all municipal elections in Boston), and elect a mayor to a four- ...

. He finished in fourth place with 2.6% of the vote.

Personal life

A lifelong bachelor, Baxter resided in Boston with his sister at the Brunswick Hotel and later the Fensgate Hotel. He died on January 18, 1927, in

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

, where he was visiting another sister.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baxter, Charles S 1866 births 1927 deaths 20th-century American politicians Harvard College alumni Massachusetts Republicans Mayors of Medford, Massachusetts Politicians from Boston