Charles Pinckney Jones

Charles Pinckney Jones (September 17, 1845 – February 22, 1914) was an American soldier and politician.

Jones was born in Monterey, Highland County, Virginia. He enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He served as a Private in the 18th Virginia Cavalry; and according to the Fort Stevens Confederate order of battle the unit was assigned to Imboden's and W.L. Jackson's Brigade participating in the Gettysburg Campaign, skirmishing the Federals in western Virginia. Later the cavalry served in the Shenandoah Valley before disbanding in April, 1865. He attended the University of Virginia Law School graduating with distinction in 1868. He established a law practice in Monterey, Virginia. On January 17, 1872, he married Martha Jane Wilson, great-great-great granddaughter of Colonel John Wilson, a longtime member of the Virginia House of Burgesses until his death in 1773.

Jones was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1883. In 1885 he was elected to the Virginia State Senate, serving the counties of Highland, Bath and Allegheny until 1897. From 1898 to 1906, he was a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia and in that first year was elected by the board to be the Rector of the University. He was the last Rector to serve the university before they adopted the presidential system for the school. The first president of the University, Edwin A. Alderman was informally installed as President September 15, 1904. Charles P. Jones formally inducted the new president at a ceremony on Thomas Jefferson's birthday anniversary, April 13, 1905 He died in Monterey, Virginia.

The C.P. Jones House and Law Office at Monterey was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.