# Charles Sumner — The Education of Henry Adams character guide

> Charles Sumner in The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sumner, Charles, Senator Sumner, Mr. Sumner, That Sumner

**First appearance:** 0005-iii-washington-1850-1854

## Snapshot

The Massachusetts Senator and abolitionist, Adams's oldest friend in Washington, whose dogmatic certainty and feud with Seward trapped the young private secretary between two rivals.

## Who they are

Sumner had passed beyond the reach of his boy friend since 1851, his nervous system never quite recovering from the Brooks injuries, and ten years of solitary senatorial life had fixed a stiffness of attitude in him. He believed his services, education, and oratory made him the Senate's most important member, and his rivalry with Seward made each man's virtues the other's faults. Adams, innocent and unsuspicious, courted both, and found himself a young mosquito buzzing between two sources of power that would each slap him for belonging to the other.

## Relationships

### [Henry Adams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/characters/henry_adams)

_professional_

Charles Sumner served as a mentor and political ally to Henry Adams during his early career in Washington, though their views later diverged.

### [John Quincy Adams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/characters/john_quincy_adams)

_professional_

Charles Sumner and John Quincy Adams shared a political alliance in the anti-slavery movement, with Sumner admiring Adams's legacy.

## In the story

### [II: Boston (1848–1854)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/ii-boston-1848-1854)

Mentioned as one of the three men in the political group centered around Charles Francis Adams's house in Mount Vernon Street.

### [Berlin (1858–1859)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/v-berlin-1858-1859)

Encountered by Adams in Berlin; recovering from a caning, he offers encouragement about learning German.

### [VII: Treason (1860–1861)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/vii-treason-1860-1861)

Senator and old family friend, noted for his insistence on Southern ignorance and his dogmatic Senate manner.

### [VIII: Diplomacy (1861)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/viii-diplomacy-1861)

Senator who opposed the appointment of Charles Francis Adams and did not provide letters of introduction to smooth Henry's path.

### [IX: Foes or Friends (1862)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/ix-foes-or-friends-1862)

Mentioned as a friend whose opinion was sought by the Minister, though not directly present in the chapter.

### [XVII: President Grant (1869)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/xvii-president-grant-1869)

Senator; his private secretary Moorfield Storey is mentioned as a frivolous influence.

### [Free Fight (1869–1870)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/chapters/xviii-free-fight-1869-1870)

One of Adams's powerful friends; becomes a victim of Grant's lax rule and quarrels with the Executive.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/characters/charles_sumner
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_education_of_henry_adams_se/characters