Representative Charles Manning Reed

Charles Manning Reed (April 3, 1803 – December 16, 1871) was a Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and a prominent businessman and militia officer in northwestern Pennsylvania. He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, into a family closely associated with the early development of the region. His grandfather, Seth Reed, is recognized as the first settler of Erie, and the Reed family played a significant role in the commercial and civic life of the growing community.

Reed received his early education in the public schools of Erie before pursuing higher studies at Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated. Following his collegiate education, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia in 1824. Although qualified to practice, he chose not to enter the legal profession. Instead, he returned to Erie and joined his father in business, particularly in the ownership and operation of vessels on the Great Lakes, an important commercial artery for the young nation and a key factor in Erie’s economic growth.

In addition to his business pursuits, Reed became active in the state militia, reflecting both his local prominence and the importance of citizen-soldiers in the early nineteenth century. He was appointed a colonel of militia in 1831, and at the expiration of that commission he was promoted to brigadier general. This military title, by which he was often known locally, underscored his standing in the community and his involvement in public affairs beyond commerce.

Reed entered formal politics as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving in the state legislature in 1837 and 1838. His service in Harrisburg coincided with a period of intense political realignment and economic debate in Pennsylvania, as the state grappled with issues of internal improvements, banking, and the aftermath of the Panic of 1837. His legislative experience helped establish his credentials within the Whig Party, which advocated for economic development and infrastructural expansion.

Building on his state-level experience, Reed was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth Congress, representing Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1845. During his single term in Congress, he served at a time when national politics were dominated by questions of territorial expansion, trade policy, and the role of the federal government in economic affairs. He sought reelection in 1844 but was an unsuccessful candidate, and his service in the national legislature concluded with the end of the Twenty-eighth Congress.

After leaving Congress, Reed returned to Erie and resumed his extensive business activities. He reengaged in shipping on the Great Lakes, continuing the family’s maritime enterprises that had long contributed to the commercial vitality of the port of Erie. Between 1846 and 1849 he expanded his interests into banking, mercantile pursuits, and the railroad business, sectors that were central to the economic transformation of Pennsylvania and the broader Great Lakes region in the mid-nineteenth century. His involvement in these enterprises reflected both his entrepreneurial outlook and the Whig emphasis on internal improvements and economic modernization.

Reed remained a leading figure in Erie until his death. He died on December 16, 1871, in his native city of Erie, Pennsylvania. He was interred in Erie Cemetery, a resting place for many of the community’s early leaders and prominent citizens. His public and private influence extended into the next generation: his son, Charles M. Reed, Jr., served as mayor of Erie from 1872 to 1873. Elected shortly after Reed’s death, the younger Reed was described in contemporary newspapers as the son of the late General Charles M. Reed, a reference to the elder Reed’s militia rank and enduring local reputation.