U.S. Senator. Born in slavery on a plantation, he was tutored by his master’s son and left his master at the beginning of the Civil War. After the war, he was a school teacher at Hannibal, Missouri and later a planter in Mississippi. He was a member of the Mississippi Levee Board and Sheriff and tax collector of Bolivar County, (1872-75). In 1875, he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate, serving until 1881 and was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate. After his term, he was appointed by President James Garfield, Register of the Treasury in 1881 and recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, serving (1891-93). He was again Register of the Treasury from 1897, until his death at age 57.
U.S. Senator. Born in slavery on a plantation, he was tutored by his master’s son and left his master at the beginning of the Civil War. After the war, he was a school teacher at Hannibal, Missouri and later a planter in Mississippi. He was a member of the Mississippi Levee Board and Sheriff and tax collector of Bolivar County, (1872-75). In 1875, he was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate, serving until 1881 and was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate. After his term, he was appointed by President James Garfield, Register of the Treasury in 1881 and recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia, serving (1891-93). He was again Register of the Treasury from 1897, until his death at age 57.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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