Representative Charles Hazen Peaslee

Charles Hazen Peaslee (February 6, 1804 – September 18, 1866) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New Hampshire during the mid-19th century. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented his state in Congress for three consecutive terms, participating in the national legislative process at a time of growing sectional tension in the United States and working to represent the interests of his New Hampshire constituents.

Peaslee was born on February 6, 1804, in Gilmanton, Belknap County, New Hampshire. Little is recorded in standard references about his early family background, but he came of age in a rural New England community during the early years of the American republic, a period marked by expanding political participation and economic change. His early life in New Hampshire helped shape the regional perspective he later brought to his legal and political career.

As a young man, Peaslee pursued an education suitable for entry into the legal profession, a common path for aspiring public officials in the early nineteenth century. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing in New Hampshire. Through his legal work he became familiar with the commercial, agricultural, and civic concerns of his fellow citizens, experience that would inform his later legislative priorities. His professional standing as an attorney provided a foundation for his entry into public life and the Democratic Party.

Before his election to Congress, Peaslee established himself in state and local affairs, aligning with the Democratic Party at a time when it was a dominant force in New Hampshire politics. His legal expertise and party activity contributed to his selection as a candidate for national office. By the time he sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, he had developed a reputation as a capable advocate for his community’s interests and as a loyal supporter of Democratic principles.

Peaslee was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire and served three terms in office, taking part in the work of Congress during a significant period in American history. His service in Congress occurred in the mid-19th century, when issues such as territorial expansion, economic policy, and the growing national debate over slavery and states’ rights dominated the legislative agenda. As a member of the Democratic Party representing New Hampshire, Charles Hazen Peaslee contributed to the legislative process during his three terms, participating in debates, voting on national policy, and working to balance party positions with the needs and views of his constituents.

During his congressional tenure, Peaslee’s role as a representative from a New England state placed him at the intersection of regional and national concerns. New Hampshire’s economy, rooted in agriculture, small industry, and trade, was affected by federal decisions on tariffs, banking, and internal improvements, all of which came before Congress in various forms. Peaslee’s participation in the democratic process reflected both his party’s national platform and the particular priorities of his district, and he was part of the broader legislative body that grappled with the mounting sectional strains that would eventually lead to the Civil War.

After completing his service in the House of Representatives, Peaslee returned to private life and to the pursuits that had first brought him prominence. Like many former members of Congress of his era, he likely resumed legal and civic activities in New Hampshire, remaining a figure identified with Democratic politics and mid-century public affairs. His later years were spent away from the national stage, but his earlier work in Congress remained part of the state’s political history.

Charles Hazen Peaslee died on September 18, 1866. His life spanned from the early years of the nineteenth century through the Civil War era, and his three-term service in the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire placed him among the mid-19th-century lawmakers who helped shape federal policy during a formative period in the nation’s development.