Charles Smith Olden

Charles Smith Olden
19th Governor of New Jersey
In office January 17, 1860 – January 20, 1863
Preceded by	William A. Newell
Succeeded by	Joel Parker
Member of the New Jersey Senate from Mercer County
In office 1845–1851
Preceded by	New Jersey Legislative Council
Succeeded by	William Cowper Alexander
Personal details
Born	(1799-02-19)February 19, 1799 near Princeton, New Jersey
Died	April 7, 1876(1876-04-07) (aged 77) Princeton, New Jersey
Political party	Whig (1844–51) Opposition (1859–63) National Union (1863–64)

Charles Smith Olden (February 19, 1799 – April 7, 1876) was an American merchant, banker, and politician who served as the 19th governor of New Jersey from 1860 to 1863 during the first part of the American Civil War. As Governor, Olden supported President Abraham Lincoln and the national war effort but favored union and reconciliation with the South above all else; before the war, he argued slavery was properly understood as the sole regulatory province of the states, and he later opposed Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

His mansion, Drumthwacket, was bought by the state in 1966 and became the official residence of the governor of New Jersey in 1981.