Charles Scott Venable (1827 - 1900)

Born 19 Mar 1827 in Prince Edward County, Virginia

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Died 11 Aug 1900 at age 73 in Charlottesville, Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Charles Scott Venable graduated from Hampden-Sydney College at the age of 15. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity while at Hampden-Sydney College. For several years following his graduation, he served as a mathematics tutor at the college. He received further education at the University of Virginia as well as in Berlin and Bonn, Germany. He became a professor in mathematics and astronomy in Virginia and South Carolina.

Venable was present at the firing on Fort Sumter in April 1861, serving as a lieutenant in the South Carolina state militia. He then fought as a private in Company A, 2nd South Carolina Infantry. In the spring of 1862, Venable joined the staff of presidential military advisor General Robert E. Lee as an aide-de-camp with the rank of major. He continued serving on Lee's staff when the general took command of the Army of Northern Virginia on June 1, 1862. He served on Lee's staff from the Peninsula Campaign to Appomattox Court House and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Following the war, Venable resumed his career as an educator. During a visit to Prussia, he was invited to the castle of Heros von Borcke, the former aide-de-camp to General J.E.B. Stuart.

Charles was also took part in an astronomical expedition to the Labrador Coast. He wrote almost a dozen math books and served as a math professor at the University of Virginia after the War. His papers are at the Virginia Historical Society, University of North Carolina, and the University of South Carolina. He also wrote memoirs; his war letters are at the University of Virginia.

The Civil War inflicted crippling financial and personal losses on the Carrington and Venable families. This included the forced sale of many of their grand plantations. Case in point, In 1887 Charles, as trustee, filed suit to delay the public sale of the Mildendo Plantation in Halifax, Virginia, which was owned by the Carrington family. The suit dragged out in the courts until 1894, when it was indeed sold for unpaid debts. During this time period the Carringtons were still able to live in the home provided they paid rent. The rent was picked up by the local sheriff.

• University of Virginia Cemetery & Columbarium, Charlottesville, Virginia

Sources

• Wikipedia
• http://www.oldhalifax.com/county/Mildendo.htm#Dr
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 January 2018), memorial page for Charles Scott Venable (19 Apr 1827–11 Aug 1900), Find A Grave Memorial no. 8683238, citing University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium, Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave .