Charles W. Jones
| Charles William Jones | |
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United States Senator from Florida |
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In office March 4, 1875 – March 4, 1887 |
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| Preceded by | Abijah Gilbert |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Pasco |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives | |
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In office 1874 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 24, 1834 Balbriggan, Ireland |
| Died | October 11, 1897 (aged 62) Dearborn, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
Charles William Jones (December 24, 1834 – October 11, 1897) was a United States Senator from Florida. He abandoned the seat after an apparent onset of mental illness.
Jones was born in Balbriggan, Ireland. His father was a British army surgeon who died when he was a child. In 1844, Jones and his mother immigrated to New York City. After attending school in New York City and St. Louis, Missouri, Jones moved to Louisiana (in 1848) and Mississippi before settling in Santa Rosa County, Florida in 1854.
Jones was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1857, moved to Pensacola, Florida and was appointed tax assessor for Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. He married Mary Ada Quigley in 1861 and they had four children before her death in 1880.
In 1872, Jones decided to try his hand at politics as a Democrat but was defeated by William Purman in a bid to become a U.S. representative. In 1874, Jones won a seat on the Florida House of Representatives, winning by only five votes.
After gaining independent support, Jones made a second attempt at federal office and, this time, was successful. He began his first Senate term in 1875 and was hailed as an early success and an example of resurgence for the Democratic party in the Reconstruction era. Although criticized for his speaking style, Jones was elected to a second term in 1881.
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