Charles Gossett

Charles Clinton Gossett (born September 2, 1888 in Butler County, Ohio – died September 20, 1974 in Boise, Idaho) was a Democratic Governor and United States Senator from Idaho.

Gossett attended public schools in Ohio. He moved west to Cunningham, Washington in 1907, to Ontario, Oregon in 1910, and finally to Nampa, Idaho in 1922. He engaged in the agriculture, livestock, feed and shipping businesses.

In 1932, Gossett was elected to the Idaho State House of Representatives. In 1936, he was elected to a single term as Idaho lieutenant governor, serving alongside Governor Barzilla W. Clark.

Gossett was elected governor in 1944, but served less than a year. In November 1945 he appointed himself to the United States Senate to succeed the late John W. Thomas, who died in office earlier that month. Gossett was succeeded as governor by Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams.

In 1946, Gossett won the Democratic nomination in a special election to finish Thomas' term in the Senate, but was defeated by Republican Congressman Henry Dworshak in the general election. After the loss he returned to his former business pursuits.

Gossett is buried in Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.