People, Locations, Episodes

Jefferson Long, Georgia Politician born

On this day in 1836, Jefferson Franklin Long, a Black tailor, storekeeper, politician, and educator, was born.

Commonwealth v. Aves, 35 Mass. is Decided

*On this date in 1836, Commonwealth v. Aves, 35 Mass. 193, was decided.  This case was in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on transporting slaves to free states.  That year, Chief Justice Lemuel Shaw ruled that slaves brought to Massachusetts “for any temporary purpose of business or pleasure” were entitled to freedom. The case was the most important legal victory for abolitionists in the 1830s and […]

Caesar Antoine, Soldier, and Businessman born

*Caesar Antoine was born on this date in 1836. He was a Black soldier, businessman, editor, and politician. Caesar Carpentier Antoine was born a Creole-free man of color in New Orleans. His father, Pedro Antoine, was a veteran of the Battle of New Orleans, and his mother, Mary Gasso, was a native of the West Indies. His paternal […]

Francis Cardozo, Politician, and Minister born

*This date marks the birth of Francis Louis Cardozo in 1837.

He was a Black minister, educator, and politician; the first African American South Carolinian to hold a government office. Cardozo was born free in Charleston, South Carolina to a prominent Jewish businessman and economist, Isaac N. Cardozo, and a free African American woman, whose name is unknown.

Pinckney Pinchback, Officer, and Politician born

On this date we mark the birth of Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback. He was a Black Civil War officer and politician.

Robert Gould Shaw, Military Officer born

*Robert Shaw was born on this date in 1837.  He was a white-American officer in the Union Army.   Robert Gould Shaw II was born in Boston to abolitionists Francis George and Sarah Blake (Sturgis) Shaw, well-known Unitarian philanthropists and intellectuals. The Shaws benefited from a large inheritance left by Shaw’s merchant grandfather and namesake […]

Benjamin W. Arnett, Minister, and Politician born

*Benjamin W. Arnett was born on this date in 1838. He was a Black administrator, politician, and minister.

John W. Menard, Publisher, and Politician born

*John Willis Menard was born on this date in 1838. He was a Black politician.

Bass Reeves, U.S. Marshall born

*The birth of Bass Reeves is celebrated on this date in1838. He was a Black farmer and was one of the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River.

Victoria Woodhull, Activist, and Feminist born

*Victoria Woodhull was born on this date in 1838. She was a white-American leader of the women’s suffrage movement. Victoria California Claflin was born the seventh of ten children in the rural frontier town of Homer, Licking County, Ohio. Her mother, Madame Roxanna “Roxy” Hummel Claflin, was born to unmarried parents and illiterate. She had […]

Joseph R. Holmes, Farmer and Politician born

*The birth of Joseph R. Holmes is celebrated on this date in 1838. He was a Black shoemaker, farmer, and politician. Holmes published various articles critical of conservatives after the American Civil War. After being emancipated from Charlotte County, Virginia, he married Mary Clarke. They had three sons and one daughter. On October 23, 1867, Holmes […]

Robert Smalls, Naval Hero, and Politician born

This date marks the birth of Robert Smalls in 1839. He was an Black slave who became a naval hero for the Union in the American Civil War (1861-65) and went on to serve as a congressman from South Carolina during Reconstruction (1865-77).

James M. Turner, Activist born

*This date in 1840 is celebrated as the birth date of James M. Turner, a Black Reconstruction Era politician, activist, educator, and diplomat.   James Milton Turner was born into slavery in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child, he was sold on the steps of the St. Louis US Courthouse for $50 (US$ 1,500 in […]

Christian Fleetwood, Military Officer born

Christian Fleetwood was born in this date in 1840. He was a Black army officer, editor, a musician, and a government officer.

John Hyman, Congressman born

On this date in 1840, John A. Hyman was born. He was a Black storekeeper, farmer, and politician.