John
Mercer Langston
was born in Louisa County, Delaware, on 14th December, 1829. His mother
was a black slave and his father a Virginian plantation owner. An
orphan by his fifth birthday, he was sent to be looked after by relatives
in Ohio.
Langston was educated at Oberlin College and after graduating in 1849
he became active in the anti-slavery
movement. At eighteen he made a speech on helping fugitive slaves
at America's first National Black Convention.
A member of the Republican Party,
Langston became involved in local politics and in 1855 was elected
as the town clerk of the Brownhelm Township. During the Civil
War he helped recruit black soldiers to fight in the Union Army.
A founder member of the National Equal Rights League, Langston was
elected president of the organization in 1864. Five years later he
helped establish the Colored National Labour Union. At the opening
meeting Langston proudly announced: "In our organization we make
no discrimination as to nationality, sex or colour."
In 1869 Langston was appointed professor of law of Howard University,
Washington. A post he held until 1877 when he became the United States
government's minister to Haiti. Langston returned to the United States
in 1885 after being elected president of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate
Institute.
Langston represented Virginia in the House of Representatives between
September, 1890 to March, 1891. John Mercer Langston died in Washington
on 15th November, 1897.
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