Charles DeKay

{{Short description|American linguist, poet, critic, and fencer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Charles Augustus de Kay

| image = Charles Augustus de Kay.png

| image_size =

| birth_date = July 25, 1848[http://usfencinghalloffame.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=52 "Brief Biography of Charles deKay"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175807/http://usfencinghalloffame.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=52 |date=July 17, 2011 }}, United States Fencing Hall of Fame website. Retrieved on December 02, 2010.

| death_date = {{death-date and age|May 23, 1935|July 25, 1848}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., US

| death_place = New York City, US

| death_cause =

| spouse = Edwardlyn Coffey

| children = 8

| education =

| alma_mater = Yale

| employer = The New York Times

| resting_place =

| occupation =

| signature = Signature of Charles Augustus de Kay.png

}}

Charles Augustus de Kay (July 25, 1848 – May 23, 1935) was a linguist, poet, critic, and fencer. He was a son of George Coleman De Kay, a naval officer.

He graduated from Yale College in 1868.{{Cite news |date=1894-06-27 |title=NEW CONSUL GENERAL AT BERLIN.; Charles de Kay of This City Appointed by the President -- Other Nominations. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1894/06/27/archives/new-consul-general-at-berlin-charles-de-kay-of-this-city-appointed.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |issn=0362-4331}}

He was best known for founding the National Sculpture Society, the Authors' Club, the National Arts Club and the Fencers Club. He was inducted into the United States Fencing Hall of Fame in 2008. He was an art and literary critic for The New York Times for 18 years. He was a co-founder of the Circle of Friends of the Medallion.Homren, Wayne (editor). [https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n43a04.html "Numismatic Writer Charles De Kay"], The E-Sylum, volume 5, number 43, October 27, 2002, Article 4. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

He also wrote under the pseudonyms "Henry Eckford" and "Louis Barnaval".[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinamerica02marq/page/58/mode/2up Barnaval, Louis], in Who's Who in America, 1901-1902 edition; p. 58; via archive.org

In June 1894, he was nominated by Grover Cleveland to be Consul General at Berlin and took over the post shortly thereafter.{{Cite news |date=1894-08-31 |title=CHARLES DE KAY THEIR GUEST; DINNER GIVEN TO THE CONSUL GENERAL TO BERLIN. Members of The Fencers' Club, The Authors' Club, The Sculpture Society, and Other Personal Friends Bid the New Official Farewell -- Repast Served in True German Style in Liederkranz Hall -- German Con- sul and Others Make Speeches. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1894/08/31/archives/charles-de-kay-their-guest-dinner-given-to-the-consul-general-to.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |issn=0362-4331}} In keeping with his lifelong love of fencing, he had the honor of opening the fencing club in Berlin while serving as Consul General.{{Cite news |date=1896-01-26 |title=BERLIN HAS A FENCING CLUB.; Charles de Kay and Lord Granville Do the Honors at the Opening. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1896/01/26/archives/berlin-has-a-fencing-club-charles-de-kay-and-lord-granville-do-the.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |issn=0362-4331}}

He was buried in Saint George's Church Cemetery, Hempstead, New York.