Charles W. Waterman

Charles Winfield Waterman
United States Senator
from Colorado
In office
March 4, 1927 – August 27, 1932
Preceded byRice W. Means
Succeeded byWalter Walker
Counsel to the U.S. Oil Conservation Board
In office
December 19, 1924 – February 25, 1927
Preceded byNone (position created)
Succeeded byNone (position vacant)
Personal details
Born(1859-11-02)November 2, 1859
Waitsfield, Vermont
DiedAugust 27, 1932(1932-08-27) (aged 72)
Washington, D.C.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAnna R. Cook (1865–1939) (m. 1890-1932, his death)
Alma materUniversity of Vermont
University of Michigan Law School
ProfessionAttorney

Charles Winfield Waterman (November 2, 1859 – August 27, 1932) was a Colorado attorney and politician. He is most notable for his service as a United States senator from Colorado.

Born in Waitsfield, Vermont, Waterman graduated from the University of Vermont in 1885 and taught school before attending the University of Michigan Law School. Following his 1889 graduation, Waterman moved to Denver, where he became a successful corporate and railroad attorney and was active in politics as a Republican. After serving as a delegate to the 1916 Republican National Convention and running unsuccessfully for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in 1918, Waterman was the Colorado manager for Calvin Coolidge's 1924 presidential campaign. After Coolidge won, he appointed Waterman general counsel for the Federal Oil Conservation Board. He was a delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention, and later that year ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in a special election, losing the Republican nomination for a two-year term to Rice W. Means, who went on to win the general election.

In 1926, Waterman defeated Means for the Republican nomination for a full six-year term. He defeated Democrat William Ellery Sweet in the general election, and served from 1927 until his death. Waterman became ill in 1932, and announced that he would not be a candidate for re-election that year. His health continued to worsen, and he died in Washington, D.C., on August 27. He was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.

Waterman was also a noted philanthropist; in addition to creating a charitable fund for Colorado attorneys, he donated a substantial amount to the University of Vermont, including funds for the construction of a campus building named for Waterman and his wife.