Charles D. Drake

Biography

Charles D. Drake was an attorney-turned-statesman whose legal mind and resolute character helped guide Missouri through the upheavals of the Civil War and Reconstruction. After serving on the Missouri Supreme Court, he became a central figure in the Republican leadership of the state and was known for his insistence on the rule of law during uncertain times.

As a United States senator, Drake championed civil rights legislation, the reorganization of Southern governments, and the protection of formerly enslaved people as citizens. His commitment to accountability, even when it brought controversy, left a lasting imprint on Missouri’s legal and political traditions.