Charles Joseph Bonaparte
Charles Joseph Bonaparte | |
|---|---|
Bonaparte, c. 1903 | |
| 46th United States Attorney General | |
| In office December 17, 1906 – March 4, 1909 | |
| President | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | William Moody |
| Succeeded by | George W. Wickersham |
| 37th United States Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office July 1, 1905 – December 16, 1906 | |
| President | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Paul Morton |
| Succeeded by | Victor H. Metcalf |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Joseph Bonaparte June 9, 1851 |
| Died | June 28, 1921 (aged 70) |
| Resting place | Loudon Park Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Parent(s) | Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte Susan May Williams |
| Relatives | See Bonaparte family |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, LLB) |
Charles Joseph Bonaparte (/ˈboʊnəpɑːrt/ BOH-nə-part; June 9, 1851 – June 28, 1921) was an American lawyer and political activist of French noble descent who advocated for progressive and liberal causes. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he served in the cabinet of the 26th U.S. president, Theodore Roosevelt.
He was a descendant of the House of Bonaparte. His grandfather was Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Emperor Napoleon I, and his grandmother was Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte.
Bonaparte was the U.S. Secretary of the Navy and later the U.S. Attorney General. During his tenure as Attorney General, he formed the Bureau of Investigation (now the FBI). Bonaparte was one of the founders and for a time the president, of the National Municipal League. He was also an activist for the voting rights of black residents of his native city of Baltimore.