Charles Blacksmith

**Charles Theodore Blacksmith** (Born 11th June 1928) is a Crysantheum politician who served as the 1st and 3rd President of the Crysantheum Empire. He also served as the Premier from September 1962 to May 1966.

Born in the Central Capital, his father was Raymond Blacksmith who served as a Royal Advisor to the Emperor, his mother was Lucia Blacksmith a lawyer. He grew up in relative luxury, and was often exposed to Nationalist tendencies from his father. He entered politics when he was 16, being elected a local Councillor (the youngest ever elected) and two years later he stood as the Empire Union candidate for Capital North, following his election as an Senator, he broke records as the youngest ever member of the Senate. He remained a backbencher since he entered the Senate, however he caught media attention in 1960 when he was appointed by the then Premier, Sue Leonard, as Minister of State for Trade and Development. Just over a year later, he received national attention when he was appointed Vice-Premier following the resignation of Benjamin Rorke-Jones. Following the Leonard Scandal in 1962, the Senate invoked Article 25, which led to Blacksmith becoming the new Premier. In June 1966, following the Republic Referendum, the Senate passed the Emergency Constitution Act, this action resulted in the Senate overwhelmingly voting to appoint Blacksmith as the first President of the Crysantheum Empire.

Blacksmith, in his first month since his appointment, sought to establish the newly created Federal Government, signing over 25 new bills into law which founded the Cabinet, the Council of the Republic, and restructured the Armed Forces. In a speech, conducted in the City of Israel in December 1967, Blacksmith outlined his "6 tenets of the Blacksmith Administration", which shows the priorities of his Administration; which includes: Drafting the new Constitution, preparing and designing the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, and among other things, preparing the country for "the greatest change since the 1650s".

Blacksmith has maintained high approval ratings in each office he has served in since 1960, but has come under criticism as he has not been elected to any of his major positions thus far, including his role as President. Despite this, his dedication to the state and desire to hold elections as soon as possible, he holds an 80% approval rating as President. An attempt in 1969 on Blacksmith's life left him in a coma, during this time, Vice President John Varnham served as acting President. When it became clear that Blacksmith may be in a coma for some time, the Senate invoked article 25 of the constitution, removing Blacksmith from office due to ill health, which led to Varnham becoming the second President and serving out the remainder of Blacksmith's first term. Blacksmith recovered and following a period of recuperation, he declared his intentions to run for President in the 1971 Presidential election. Despite claims of ill health, Blacksmith notably recieved a letter proving his full recovery. He won his party's nomination, beating incumbent John Varnham. He named former Agriculture secretary, Benjamin Paul as his running mate, a measure that was surprising as many had expected Varnham to join the ticket and become Vice President again. He then went on to win the election; therefore becoming the third President.

During his second term, he finalised amendments to the new constitution and began a series of economic reforms that proved universally popular. He left office after his term ended in 1975. He is generally ranked by historians as the most popular presidents, due to him being the founding father of the second Empire, and is ranked in the upper tiers of premiers.