Historical biographies: Who is John Mercer Langston?

John Mercer Langston was born on December 14, 1829 in Louisa County, Virginia. He had two brothers, Gideon, Charles and one sister, Maria. The owner of the plantation, on which John and his siblings were born was Captain Ralph Quarles, their white father. Their mother, Lucy Langston, was a mixture of African and Indian blood. She was born a slave but was given her emancipation papers by Quarles.

John's father died in 1833. In his last will and testament, Quarles left his entire estate to Lucy and her three sons. The gifts of land and personal property by Quarles to Lucy and her sons were indicative of his genuine affection for his family. John Mercer Langston, in his autobiography, "From a Virginia Plantation to the Nation's Capitol," wrote affectionately of his father, and particularly, of Quarles' concern for the education of his children. Langston felt that his father did everything he could, within prevailing social mores, except give them his family name and permit them to live in his estate house. John's mother died the year after his father's death.

Langston's lifelong ambition was to enter law. He applied to several law schools, but was turned down because of his race. One of the schools he applied to was owned and conducted by J.W. Fowler. According to Langston's autobiography, Fowler told Langston that he would let him attend the school if he would consent to pass as a Frenchman or Spaniard. Fowler did not want to offend the white supporters of his school by admitting an African America. Fowler told Langston that the conditions of his admittance would be that he would have to "come into the recitation room; take your seat off and apart from the class; ask no questions; behave yourself quietly; and if after a time no one says anything against you, but all seem well inclined toward you, you may move up nearer the class; and so continue to do till you are taken and considered in due time as in full and regular membership." Langston inwardly exploded but outwardly in a measured calm voice said:

"I thank you, Mr. Fowler! But however much I may desire to enter your school, I will do so upon no terms or conditions of humiliation! I will not edge my way into your institution! Nor will I yield my American birthright, as a citizen of the United States, even in the pretense that I am a Frenchman or a Spaniard, to gain that object! I was born in Virginia and upon a plantation. Neither of these facts will I deny. I expect to live as I hope to die, in my own country in the service of my own fellow citizens! Mr. Fowler, before I would consent to the humiliation and degradation implied by either of your propositions, I would open my veins and die of my own act! I am a colored American; and I shall not prove false to myself, nor neglect the obligation I owe to the Negro race!"

The strong-willed Langston took leave of the company of Fowler. Each parted with a firm "Good-bye!" Undaunted by rejections and insults, Langston applied to study law under Philemon Bliss, whom he described as a scholar, lawyer, judge, politician, congressman, anti-slavery agitator, and friend of black people in America. Bliss happily accepted Langston into his law office and family. While he was studying, Langston had the opportunity to speak in Elyria, Ohio to counter the proponents of Colonization, the movement to return blacks to Africa. Langston's speech gained for him recognition and approval. Copies of his speech were approvingly printed in various local newspapers in northern Ohio. The speech established him as one of the newest leading voices in the cause of black people in the U.S.

Langston completed his study under Judge Bliss in September, 1854. Langston was examined in law by a committee consisting of three of the best lawyers in the state of Ohio. Langston successfully passed his examination and was presented with a certificate stating that he was able to practice law in the state of Ohio on September 13, 1854.

In 1855, he gave one of his many famous speeches at an American Anti-slavery Society meeting in New York City. In a portion of the speech he stated:

"A nation may lose its liberties and be a century in finding it out. Where is the American liberty? In its far-reaching and broad sweep, slavery has stricken down the freedom of us all."

Langston was a prominent, successful lawyer. One of his most famous cases was the defense of Oberlin student Edmonia Lewis, an African American, who was accused of poisoning two of her fellow white female students. Langston's successful defense of Lewis led to an acquittal in the case. Edmonia Lewis later became one of America's best known black sculptresses.

Langston's career touched upon varied aspects of black life. He was a member of the city council of Brownhelm, Ohio from 1855 to 1860. He also served as president of the National Equal Rights League. He was a member of the Board of Education of Oberlin, Ohio. He was the school inspector general of the Freedmen's Bureau from 1868-1869, and dean of the law school of Howard University from 1869-1876. From 1877 to 1885, he was minister-resident to Haiti. He was president of the Virginia Normal College Institute from 1885 to 1888. In 1889 he became a representative from Virginia to the United States Congress. While living in Oberlin, Ohio he financially supported other blacks in college there. Throughout his life, he remained a strong opponent of the American Colonization Society.

After his term as Congressman ended in 1891, Langston lectured and participated in economic and political affairs around the U.S. until his death in 1897. Many schools are named in his honor in recognition of his achievements and contributions to America.