Ezra C. Carleton

{{Short description|American politician (1838–1911)}}

{{refimprove|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Ezra C. Carleton

|image = Ezra C. Carleton (Michigan Congressman).jpg

|caption = C.M. Bell Studio Collection (Library of Congress), Circa 1882

|state = Michigan

|district = {{ushr|Michigan|7|7th}}

|term_start = March 4, 1883

|term_end = March 3, 1887

|preceded = John Treadway Rich

|succeeded = Justin Rice Whiting

|birth_date = {{birth date|1838|9|6}}

|birth_place = St. Clair, Michigan, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1911|7|24|1838|9|6}}

|death_place = Port Huron, Michigan, U.S.

|party = Democratic

|education =

|spouse =

|children =

}}

Ezra Child Carleton (September 6, 1838 – July 24, 1911) was a U.S. Representative from the 7th district of Michigan.

Carleton was born in St. Clair, Michigan, where he attended the common schools and graduated from the Port Huron High School in 1859.{{Cite web |title=Carleton, Ezra Child |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000147 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}} He engaged in business as a hardware merchant in Port Huron, running the business "Wim Stewart & Co" with two business partners.{{Cite news |date=1881-02-04 |title=The Late William Stewart |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-times-herald-the-late-william-stewar/146052285/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |newspaper=The Times Herald |location=Port Huron, Michigan |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1881, he received the Democratic nomination for mayor of Port Huron, a position he occupied from 1881 to 1882.

In 1882, Carleton was nominated to run against John Treadway Rich to represent Michigan's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House.{{Cite news |date=1882-09-30 |title=The result of fusion... |url=https://newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-tribune-the-result-of-fusio/146052910/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |newspaper=Battle Creek Tribune |location=Battle Creek, Michigan |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Detroit Free Press reported that Carleton was popular in several important wards and could pose that he could pose a threat to Rich, a prediction proven correct when he won the election that November.{{Cite news |date=1882-10-04 |title=The Detroit Free Press... |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-lansing-weekly-republican-the-detroi/146053026/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |newspaper=The Lansing Weekly Republican |location=Lansing, Michigan |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1882-11-11 |title=The Country Swept Over by a Democratic Simoom |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-the-country-swept-over-by-a/146053355/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |newspaper=The Citizen |location=Battle Creek, Michigan |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} He served in the House from March 4, 1883, until March 3, 1887, in the U.S. House representing Michigan's 7th congressional district. He was succeeded in office by Democrat Justin Rice Whiting.

After leaving Congress in 1887, Carleton returned to his former mercantile pursuits in Port Huron. He was the Democratic candidate for the 7th District in the election of 1894, losing to Republican Horace G. Snover.

Carleton died in Port Huron and is interred there in Lakeside Cemetery.