Judge Charles Vivian Brent

Charles Vivian Brent (1831-1906) was born at Pomonkey and married a daughter of Maryland Senator William D. Merrick (his uncle George marrying another of Merrick's daughters). Although their children died young, C.V. Brent edited the Southern Maryland Independent newspaper as well as practiced law with his elder brother Robert in Baltimore. C.V. Brent also served in Maryland's post-war Constitutional Convention, and then was a lawyer in the U.S. Department of the Interior Interior Department until his death in Georgetown.

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From The (Washington DC) Evening Star, of Friday, June 29, 1906:

Judge V. Brent dead: Was assistant attorney for Interior Department - Funeral services tomorrow morning - interment to be private - sketch of his career

Funeral services over the remains of Judge Vivian Brent, who for many years was an assistant attorney in the office of the assistant attorney in the office of the assistant attorney general of the Interior Department, whose death occurred yesterday at his home in Georgetown, after an illness of about two weeks, will be held at Holy Trinity Church, 36th and O streets, at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. The interment will be private. The pallbearers will be chosen from among the associates of the deceased in the Interior Department, in accordance with a wish expressed by him.

Judge Brent was the youngest son of William Leigh Brent, and was born in 1835 at Pamonkey, the ancestral estate of the Brent family in Charles County, Maryland. When he was a mere lad, his parents removed with him to Louisiana, from which state his father was elected to the House of Representatives for two terms.

Early Education

He received his early education in Louisiana and completed it at Georgetown College.

After leaving college, he entered the law office of his brother, Robert J. Brent, of Baltimore, with whom he studied and afterward practiced law for a number of years. Subsequently he settled in his native county and became prominent in politics and in his profession. He was regarded as one of the ablest members of the last constitutional convention of the State of Maryland. Judge Brent married Miss Josephine Merrick, a sister of William M. Merrick, Richard T. Merrick, and George T. Merrick, all engaged in the legal profession. Judge Brent in 1882 was appointed assistant attorney general for the Interior Department, which position he continued to hold until the time of his death. He was the intimate friend of the late Justice Lamar, Secretary of the Interior, under President Cleveland’s first administration. Through all the political changes that have occurred since his appointment, Judge Brent always enjoyed the fullest confidence of the several heads of the department and the respect and esteem of his official associates. His friends declare that he was thoroughly learned in the law, a fluent writer, a general companion, and a staunch friend. His wife and an adopted daughter, Miss Josephine Brent Merrick, survive him.

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From The (Washington DC) Evening Star, of Saturday, June 30, 1906:

Judge Brent’s Funeral: Services held this morning at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 36th and O streets, over the remains of Judge Vivian Brent, who for many years was an assistant attorney in the office of the assistant attorney general for the Interior Department. Death occurred last Thursday at his home in Georgetown, after an illness of about two weeks. The interment was in Rock Creek Cemetery. Requiem mass was said by Rev. Farther Harlan.

The pallbearers were Judge S.V. Proudfit, Judge E. F. Best, Messrs. J.R. Webster, P.E. Winter, G.C. Cross, J.M. McCreery, W.C. Polock, and D.H. Hammett.

Judge Brent was a native of Maryland. When he was a lad, his parents moved to Louisiana, from which state his father was elected to the House of Representatives for two terms. He received his early education in Louisiana and completed it at Georgetown University, later entering the law office of his brother, Robert J. Brent, of Baltimore, with whom he studied and afterward practiced law for a number of years. Judge Brent’s wife and an adopted daughter, Miss Josephine Brent Merrick, survive him.

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