Attended Mclaren grammar school, Caledonia, N.Y. and Springville Academy, N.Y.. came to Canada, 1849; opened a general store at Lynedoch, Ont; entered the lumber business, 1859; acquired his own firm, 1861 and operated a lumber co. for over 40 years; a founder of the Dominion Lord's Day Alliance; author of "Speeches and Addresses" (Toronto, 1905) and numerous articles; was councillor of Charlotteville Township, Ont., 1856-1857; elected to the House of Commons, 1872, 1874, 1878, 1882, 1887, 1891, 1896, 1900, for Norfolk North, Ont.; sat until the dissolution of the 9th parliament, but was not a candidate, 1904; became an authority on the tariff and supported commercial union with the United States; was a member of the joint high commission dealing with trade between Canada and United States at Quebec, Aug. 23 1898 - Oct.10 1898 and at Washington, Nov.9, 1898 - Feb. 20, 1899; Liberal.

Attended school in Waterloo Cnty Ont; came to Canada, 1849, but returned to U.S. 1855-61; joined his brother, John Charlton, in the lumber business at Lyndoch Ont 1861; was President Ont Lumberman's Assoc 1913; also president, Canadian Forestry Assoc 1913; also president, National Sanatorium Assoc and an early leader in the campaign to combat tuberculosis; a candidate at the general election 1886 for Norfolk South, but defeated; elected to the legislative assembly of Ontario 1900 for Norfolk South; this election declared void; re-elected at a by-election Jan 23, 1890 and 1894,1898,1902; defeated 1905; speaker of the legislative assembly of Ontario Mar.10 1903-Apr.26 1904; Commissioner of crown lands of Ontario, Nov.24 1904-Feb.7 1905; elected to the House of Commons 1911, for Norfolk Ont as a Liberal; re-elected 1917 as a Liberal Unionist; sat until the dissolution of the 13th parliament, but was not a candidate 1921.