Charles P. Bush

Biography

Bush was born in Ithaca, New York.

Bush moved to Michigan in 1836, becoming one of the first residents of Handy.

He was elected as a Democrat to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1840 and served until 1843. In 1844, he was a Presidential elector for Michigan, voting for James K. Polk, who became U. S. President. In 1846, he was elected to the Michigan Senate and the following year served as president pro tempore of the State Senate. In 1847, when Governor Alpheus Felch resigned to serve in the U. S. Senate, Bush became the sixth lieutenant governor of Michigan serving under Governor William L. Greenly from March 4, 1847, to January 3, 1848. In 1847, he also cast the deciding vote to move the state capital from Detroit to Lansing.

Bush soon moved to Lansing and was elected to the state constitutional convention in 1850. Two years later he was a delegate to the 1852 Democratic National Convention, which nominated Franklin Pierce for U. S. President. In 1855 he was elected as state senator from Shiawassee and Ingham counties. He drafted the bill which abolished capital punishment in Michigan.

Bush was a successful business man with a 1700 acre farm in Livingston County was considered one of the best in the state. He was also considered an effective and forcible speaker.

He died in Lansing at approximately 47 years of age after suffering years of illness.

References

• Political Graveyard

before= William L. Greenly | title= Lieutenant Governor of Michigan | years= 1847–1848 | after= William M. Fenton}}