# Charles D. Gaither

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United States Army general

Charles D. Gaither Gaither in 1920 publication Born (1860-11-28)November 28, 1860 Howard County, Maryland, U.S. Died March 29, 1947(1947-03-29) (aged 86) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Buried Green Mount Cemetery Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Allegiance United States Branch United States Army Service years 18??–1890 1896–1918 Rank Brigadier general Conflicts Spanish–American War Border War (1910–19) Spouses Alice Stockton Williams ​ ​ (divorced)​ Second wife (died) Marie L. Towson ​ (m. 1919)​ [1] Children 2 Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department In office 1920 – May 17, 1937 Appointed by Albert Ritchie Preceded by Position established Succeeded by William P. Lawson Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the Baltimore's 2nd district In office 1888–1888 Serving with Henry Bargar, George Colton, James W. Denny, Patrick Reilly, Alexander H. Robertson Personal details Party Democratic

**Charles D. Gaither** (November 27, 1860 – March 29, 1947) was a [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) officer and [police commissioner](/source/Police_commissioner). He was active in the [Maryland Army National Guard](/source/Maryland_Army_National_Guard) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and in the [Baltimore Police Department](/source/Baltimore_Police_Department) in the 1920s and 1930s. He served in the [Spanish–American War](/source/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War) and [World War I](/source/World_War_I).

## Early life

Charles D. Gaither was born on November 27 (or 20[2]), 1860, in [Howard County, Maryland](/source/Howard_County%2C_Maryland), to Rebecca Hanson (née Dorsey) and George Riggs Gaither. He was born on the family's Oakland Manor 1,800 acres (730 ha) farm two miles south of [Ellicott City](/source/Ellicott_City%2C_Maryland). His father was an officer who served the [Confederate States of America](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) and the U.S. afterward.[3][2][4] When he was a young man, Maryland saw some riots serious enough that the Fifth and Sixth Infantry regiments were called in to help. Gaither observed their actions, and it influenced his decision-making when he later served on the Baltimore police department.[5]

## Career

Gaither entered his father's regiment, the 5th Regiment of the [Maryland Army National Guard](/source/Maryland_Army_National_Guard), as a private. He was present at [Camden Station](/source/Camden_Station) during the [Great Railroad Strike of 1877](/source/Great_Railroad_Strike_of_1877). He became colonel of the regiment in 1887 and retained that command until 1896.[4] In 1888, Gaither served as a [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) member of the [Maryland House of Delegates](/source/Maryland_House_of_Delegates), representing Baltimore's 2nd district.[4][6] He initially retired in 1890, but was called back into service in 1896 as a captain. He participated in the [Spanish–American War](/source/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War), initially stationed in [Tampa, Florida](/source/Tampa%2C_Florida).[1][4] He then went to Cuba and held a command in the Ninth (colored) U.S. Volunteer Infantry. Catching [typhoid fever](/source/Typhoid_fever), they were mustered out and returned home. Gaither assumed command of the Fifth Maryland Veterans Corps after he became a colonel, and upon his promotion to [brigadier general](/source/Brigadier_general_(United_States)) in 1912, he assumed command of the First Maryland Brigade. That same year, Gaither was in charge of an American rifle team that won an international tournament in [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires). He served on the Mexican border in 1917, and commanded [Fort McClellan](/source/Fort_McClellan) for a short time. After commanding the 58th Infantry Brigade, Gaither retired after he discovered he had a [heart murmur](/source/Heart_murmur).[1]

Maryland Governor [Albert Ritchie](/source/Albert_Ritchie) appointed Gaither as the [commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department](/source/Commissioner_of_the_Baltimore_Police_Department), and he served in the position from 1920 to May 17, 1937.[7] the longest tenure of anyone holding the position.[8] He was replaced as commissioner by [William P. Lawson](/source/William_P._Lawson).[9][10] Observers commented positively on his leadership in this position.[1] Following his retirement, Gaither managed his real estate interests in Baltimore and his 123 acres (50 ha) farm in Howard County.[4]

Gaither died following a heart ailment on March 29, 1947, at [Bon Secours Hospital](/source/Grace_Medical_Center_(Baltimore)) in Baltimore.[1][4] He was buried at [Green Mount Cemetery](/source/Green_Mount_Cemetery).[11]

## Personal life

Gaither was married three times. He married Alice Stockton Williams, but the marriage ended in divorce. He then married the divorced wife of his brother John Gaither. His second wife died. He married Marie L. Towson in 1919. He had two daughters.[1][2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998137_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998137_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998137_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998137_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998137_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998137_1-5) [Davis 1998](#CITEREFDavis1998), p. 137.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit2_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit2_2-2) ["Gen. Gaither Is Dead at 86"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122158112/gen-gaither-is-dead-at-86-30-mar/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. March 30, 1947. p. 18. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998136_3-0)** [Davis 1998](#CITEREFDavis1998), p. 136.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obit_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obit_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-obit_4-5) ["General Gaither, Ex-Police Chief, Soldier, Dies"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122155996/general-gaither-ex-police-chief/). *The Evening Sun*. March 29, 1947. p. 10. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDavis1998136–137_5-0)** [Davis 1998](#CITEREFDavis1998), p. 136–137.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Historical List, House of Delegates, Baltimore City (1865-1902)"](https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/house/html/bchse1.html). *Maryland Manual On-Line*. [Maryland State Archives](/source/Maryland_State_Archives). November 8, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["General Charles D Gaither"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180704005511/http://baltimorecitypolicedept.org/citypolice/general-charles-d-gaither.html). Baltimore City Police History. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["75th Anniversary of CHAS. D. GAITHER's Commissioning"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150929221814/http://bayheritage.org/75th-anniversary-of-chas-d-gaithers-commissioning/). Bayheritage.org. September 14, 2015. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Credit Report Shows Lawson Liquor Link"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun-credit-report-shows-laws/143946861/). *[The Evening Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. June 25, 1938. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Lawson Quits Police Post 'Temporarily,' Until SEC Fraud Charges Are Heard"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-lawson-charges/114037619/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. July 31, 1938. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved January 12, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Gaither Rites Set Tomorrow"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122157900/gaither-rites-set-tomorrow-31-mar/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. March 31, 1947. p. 15. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

## Bibliography

- Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). *Generals in Khaki*. [Raleigh, North Carolina](/source/Raleigh%2C_North_Carolina): Pentland Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1571970886](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1571970886). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [40298151](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/40298151).

## External links

- Media related to [Charles D. Gaither](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Charles_D._Gaither) at Wikimedia Commons

Police appointments Preceded by Position established Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department 1920–1937 Succeeded by William P. Lawson

v t e Baltimore Police Department Commissioners Board of Commissioners Gaither Lawson Nelson (acting) Stanton Atkinson Ober Ford (acting) Hepbron Schmidt Pomerleau Battaglia Robinson Tilghman Woods Frazier Rotation (acting) Daniel Norris Clark Hamm Bealefeld Batts Davis De Sousa Tuggle (acting) Harrison Worley Events 2015 Baltimore protests Baltimore police strike Killing of Freddie Gray Gun Trace Task Force Death of Sean Suiter Wayne Jenkins William King and Antonio Murray Harlem Park Three Murders of Keona Holley and Justin Johnson Media Charm City Cop in the Hood Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets Homicide: Life on the Street Serial, Season 1 The Wire We Own This City Related Espantoon Rough ride

v t e Commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department Police Commissioners (1920–present) Charles D. Gaither (1920–37) William P. Lawson (1937–38) Stephen G. Nelson (interim 1938) Robert F. Stanton (1938–43) Hamilton R. Atkinson (1943–49) Beverly Ober (1949–55) Fred L. Ford (interim 1955) James M. Hepbron (1955–61) Bernard Schmidt (1961–66) Donald Pomerleau (1966–81) Frank Battaglia (1981–84) Bishop Robinson (1984–87) Edward J. Tilghman (1987–89) Edward V. Woods (1989–93) Thomas C. Frazier (1994–99) John E. Gavrilis, Elbert Shirley & Robert Smith (interim rotation 1999–2000) Ronald L. Daniel (2000) Edward T. Norris (2000–02) Kevin P. Clark (2002–04) Leonard Hamm (2004–07) Frederick H. Bealefeld III (2007–12) Anthony Batts (2012–15) Kevin Davis (2015–18) Darryl De Sousa (2018) Gary Tuggle (interim 2018–19) Michael S. Harrison (2019–23) Richard Worley (2023–present) Presidents of the Board of Police Commissioners (1850–1920) Charles Howard (1850–61) Nicholas L. Wood (1862–64) Samuel Hindes (1864–66) James Young (1866–67) LeFevre Jarrett (1867–70) John W. Davis (1870–71) William H. B. Fusselbaugh(1871–81) George Colton (1881–87) Edson M. Schryver (1888–97) Daniel C. Heddinger (1897–1900) George M. Upshur (1900–1904) George R. Willis (1904–08) Sherlock Swann (1908–10) John B. A. Wheltle (1910–12) Morris Ames Soper (1912–13) James McEvoy (1913–14) Daniel C. Ammidon (1914–16) Lawrason Riggs (1916–20) Other members of the Board of Police Commissioners (1850–1920) select list Thomas Kelso

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Charles D. Gaither](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_D._Gaither) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_D._Gaither?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.