Sulomon Harte: Biography

Sulomon Harte was a Charginian politician who served as the 6th and final president of the Charginian Republic from 1947 to 1953. His resignation in May of 1953 triggered the Charginian Political Crisis of 1953 which led to the Van Grun Takeover which in turn led to the disestablishment of the Charginian Republic and the creation of the Armed Republic of Charge Island.

Sulomon Fisk Harte was born to an upper class family in Ferdvonung on November 18th, 1885. His father was a prominent business tycoon. Harte spent his formative years under the wing of his father. When he was 18, he enrolled in Schlechtstadt University and graduated with a degree in law in 1907. After this, he worked as a Barrister for many years.

Harte had always been passionate about his country and around 1945 decided to run for President. He announced his campaign for President in 1946. Harte deeply disliked Yohan Graupiltsen who was the President prior to 1947. Graupiltsen was considered a national embarrassment and Harte used this to his advantage creating many campaigns portraying Graupiltsen as Charge Island's national laughing stock. These campaigns earned him widespread support and he eventually won the Presidential election on December 15th, 1946. He was inaugurated on February 10th, 1947 and began his Presidency.

In the first 3 or so years of his Presidency, Harte was generally well-liked by the population of Charge Island. He introduced several reforms which provided more funding for Education and Welfare which had desperately needed it. However, Harte was criticized for increasing taxes on many things.

During 1952, Harte was involved in many scandals which made his approval ratings plummet. Fearing that the people might oust him, he resigned on the 2nd of May 1953. Following his resignation, a period of intense social unrest followed. Around the end of May, a man named Maksimilian van Grun amassed a group of supporters and a battalion of tanks and surrounded the Charginian Government building. He threatened to blow it up if they did not give in to his demands. Van Grun got his wish and they let him on May 30th. He slowly began the process of disestablishing the Charginian Republic and setting up a new state. He accomplished this on October 19th and formed The Armed Republic of Charge Island.

Following his resignation and subsequent events, Harte relocated to the island of Kleinislant. However, he was soon tracked down by Maksimilian van Grun. He offered to relocate Harte to a remote part of the country. He accepted this offer and moved to a private complex owned by Van Grun on the island of Kleinislant.

After moving to Kleinislant in 1954, Harte and his family lived a quiet life. Maksimilian van Grun visited Harte on several occasions and the two formed a friendship after settling their differences.

Harte died from natural causes on November 26th, 1986 at the age of 101. His funeral was held in his hometown of Ferdvonung and was attended by his surviving family, around 50 citizens and 3 members of the Van Grun Family.