ATHERTON, Charles Gordon, (son of Charles Humphrey Atherton), a Representative and a Senator from New Hampshire; born in Amherst, Hillsborough County, N.H., July 4, 1804; graduated from Harvard University in 1822; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced practice in Dunstable (now Nashua), N.H.; member of the State house of representatives 1830 and 1833-1835, serving as speaker 1833-1835; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth and the two succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1843); did not seek reelection in 1842, having become a candidate for Senator; elected to the United States Senate as a Democrat in 1843, and served from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1849; chairman, Committee on Printing (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Roads and Canals (Twenty-ninth Congress), Committee on Finance (Thirtieth Congress); resumed the practice of law in Nashua; again elected to the United States Senate in 1852 for the term beginning March 4, 1853, took the oath of office on March 4, 1853, and served until his death in Manchester, N.H., November 15, 1853; interment in Nashua Cemetery, Nashua, N.H.