Person:Charles Fisher (10)

a prominent politician and businessman of Salisbury. Fisher studied law, but never practiced the profession. Fisher was elected to the state Senate in 1818 and, in 1819, was elected to fill the congressional seat of George Mumford upon Mumford's death in office. Fisher served two terms in Washington, becoming an ardent supporter of John C. Calhoun. Fisher returned to North Carolina after declining to seek a third term in Congress. In 1828, Fisher presented a lengthy "Report on the Establishment of Cotton and Woolen Manufacturers" to the N.C. State Assembly. This report was reprinted in full by the American Farmer within a month, and was circulated widely throughout the South. Fisher was then elected to the North Carolina House of Commons seven times, serving as speaker in 1830 and 1831. He became a leader of the western half of the state, and worked for a constitutional convention in North Carolina to give more power to the western counties. In North Carolina, he continued to work on behalf of Calhoun's presidential aspirations, taking Calhoun's part on many issues, such as the tariff, the national bank, and nullification.

  Charles Fisher was involved in many business activities.  He

was a partner in several gold mining companies in western North Carolina, some of which were located on property inherited from Lewis Beard. He owned half interest in a plantation in Smith County, Miss., and dabbled in land speculation in that state, which led to his involvement in the resettlement of the Choctaw Indian Nation.

  Fisher died in 1849, and his business interests were taken

over by his son, Charles Frederick Fisher (26 December 1816-21 July 1861).