Charles P. Cary

Charles P. Cary
17th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin
In office January 5, 1903 – July 1, 1921
Preceded by	Lorenzo D. Harvey
Succeeded by	John Callahan
Personal details
Born	Charles Preston Cary (1856-01-28)January 28, 1856 Marshall, Ohio, U.S.
Died	June 14, 1943(1943-06-14) (aged 87) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison
Party	Republican
Spouse	Myra Pugsley ​ (m. 1892⁠–⁠1943)​
Children	Lucian Cary (b. 1886; died 1971)
Alma mater	University of Chicago
Occupation	Educator

Charles Preston Cary (January 28, 1856 – June 14, 1943) was an American educator and Republican politician from Wisconsin. He served as the 17th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin; with 18 years in office, he was the second longest-serving superintendent in Wisconsin history, serving from 1903 to 1921. Outside of his years in elected office, he also served several years as head of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and ran the training department at the Milwaukee State Teachers College from 1893 to 1901.

Biography

Cary had German and English ancestry. Born in Marshall, Ohio, he went to Ohio Central Normal School and worked in education in Ohio, Kansas, and Nebraska. In 1893, he moved to Wisconsin and was the head of the Milwaukee State Normal School training department (now University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee). He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago. He served as Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1903 to 1921.

Cary was a Republican.