An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

COOPER, Charles Merian, a Representative from Florida; born in Athens, Clarke County, Ga., January 16, 1856; moved with his parents to Florida in 1864; pursued academic studies at Gainesville Academy; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in St. Augustine, Fla.; member of the State house of representatives in 1880; served in the State senate in 1884; attorney general of Florida 1885-1889; appointed in 1889 one of the three commissioners to revise the statutes of the State; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1893-March 3, 1897); was not a candidate for renomination; resumed the practice of law in Jacksonville, Fla., until his death there November 14, 1923; interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery.