Charles Ready (December 22, 1802 – June 4, 1878) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 5th congressional district.

Biography

Ready was born in Readyville in Rutherford County, now called Cannon County, on December 22, 1802. He attended the common schools and graduated from Greeneville College in Tennessee. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was married to Martha Alvoid Strong on May 19, 1825 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Their offspring were:

Career

In 1835, Ready was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing Rutherford County, alongside Granville Smith Crockett. He was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-third Congress and re-elected as a member of the American Party to the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth Congresses. He served from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1859. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress, and resumed the practice of law.

Death

Ready died in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on June 4, 1878. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.