LANGSTON, VA, BIOGRAPHY, 1829

	The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable
Americans: Volume VI L. -  Langworthy, Edward

	LANGSTON, John Mercer, representative, was born at
Louisa Court House, Va., Dec. 14, 1829, the youngest of
three sons of Capt. Ralph Quarles by Lucy Langston, a negro
slave. His father died in 1834, and by his will freed the
boys. John was then taken to Ohio, and was placed in the
family of Col. William D. Gooch, a friend of his father's,
where he received a primary education. He was a student at
the more advanced colored schools of Cincinnati, Ohio, and
was graduated from Oberlin, A.B., 1849, A.M., and B.D.,
1852. He studied law in the office of Philemon Bliss, at
Elyria, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1855; being the
first colored man admitted to the bar in the United States,
and he practised in Ohio, 1855-67. He was clerk of the
township of Brownhelm in 1855; was admitted to practice in
the supreme court of the United States in 1867, upon motion
of James A. Garfield, and removing to Washington, D.C., he
resumed his practice there. He was inspector general of the
Freedman's bureau, 1868-70; a professor and dean of the law
department of Howard University, 1869-76, which department
he established, organized and conducted according to his own
methods, and he was elected vice-president and was acting
president of the university in 1874. He was a member of the
board of health of the District of Columbia, and its
attorney, 1871-78; U.S. minister-resident and consul-general
of Port-au-Prince, Hayti, and chargÈ d'affaires near the
government of Santo Domingo, 1877-85. He was then employed
by a leading commercial house to act as their attorney in
the West Indies, and he returned to the United States after
an absence of two months to accept the presidency of the
Virginia Normal and Collegiate institute, which office he
held, 1885-88. He was a Republican representative from the
fourth Virginia district in the 51st congress, 1889-91, and
claimed to have been re-elected but counted out of the 52d
congress, but declined to contest the seat. He was nominated
by acclamation for the 53d congress by the Republican
convention held in Burkeville, September, 1892, but declined
to be a candidate. He was elected a fellow of the Victoria
Institute of England. The honorary degree of LL.D. was
conferred upon him by Howard university in 1875. He is the
author of: Freedom and Citizenship (1883); and of many
articles, letters and addresses on educated and political
topics, published in magazines, newspapers and pamphlets.

	Contributed by: cdan@mylink.net