History of Howard, (Fairfax County) Virginia United States of America

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Charles Fenton Mercer, representative, was born in Fredericksburg, Va., June 6, 1778; son of James and Eleanor (Dick) Mercer; grandson of John Mercer, of Marlborough, Stafford county, Va., and a descendant of John Mercer, of Dublin, Ireland. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1797, A.M., 1800. He tendered his services to General Washington in 1798, at the time of the threatened invasion by the French, and served as lieutenant and captain of cavalry, 1798-1800. He was admitted to the bar in 1802; travelled in Europe, 1802-03, and on his return to America settled in practice at Aldie, Loudoun county, Va. He was a representative in the Virginia legislature, 1810-17, being chairman of the committee on finance of the house of delegates, 1816, and the original projector of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, of which he was president under the original charter. During the session of 1816-17 he was the author of a bill for the organization of education in Virginia, which provided for a university, colleges, academies and primary schools. This bill passed the house of delegates on Feb. 18, 1817 (ayes 66, noes 49), and was defeated in the senate on February 20, by a tie vote (ayes 7, noes 7). Had this bill passed the senate, it would have preceded by one year Jefferson's bill for the establishment of the University of Virginia. At the session of 1815-16, Mr. Mercer had reported a measure, which was adopted, that largely increased the literary fund of the state and so made posible a larger appropriation from this fund to the University of Virginia. While in congress his name was connected with many important measures, especially those relating to the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. He served through the war of 1812, being aide to the governor, with the rank of brigadier-general, and was in command of the forces at Norfolk, Va. He was a Federalist representative in the 15th-26th congresses, 1817-41, supported the administration of James Monroe and John Quincy Adams and advocated the protection of home industry. He visited Europe in 1853, to confer with the chief public men on the abolition of the slave trade. He was a supporter, and for many years one of the directors, of the American Colonization society. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the College of New Jersey in 1826, on which occasion he delivered an address on" Popular Education," which was printed in pamphlet form, and as an appendix, his bill of 1817, for the organization of education in Virginia, which embraced a systematic plan and would materially have advanced the cause of education in the state. This bill will also he found in "Sundry Documents on the Subject of a System of Public Education for the State of Virginia. Published by the President and Directors of the Literary Fund in obedience to a Resolution of the General Assembly. Richmond, Printed by Ritchie, Trueheart and Du Val, 1817," a very rare and valuable pamphlet. Mr. Mercer was never married. He died at Howard, Va., May 4, 1858, and is buried at Leesburg, Va.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Howard, (Fairfax County) Virginia

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