History
John Mercer Langston (December 14, 1829 – November 15,
1897) was an American abolitionist and U.S. Congressman
from Virginia. He was one of the first African Americans in the
United States to be elected to public office, when in 1855, he
was elected as a town clerk in Ohio.
Langston was born in Louisa County, Virginia, the son of
Ralph Quarles, a white plantation owner, and Lucy Langston,
a slave of mixed African and Native American heritage. His
parents died when he was five year old. Upon his father’s
death, all of his father’s slaves, including Langston, were freed
in compliance with wishes expressed in Quarles’ will. Langston
and his brothers then moved to Oberlin, Ohio, to live with
family friends.
1897) was an American abolitionist and U.S. Congressman
from Virginia. He was one of the first African Americans in the
United States to be elected to public office, when in 1855, he
was elected as a town clerk in Ohio.
Langston was born in Louisa County, Virginia, the son of
Ralph Quarles, a white plantation owner, and Lucy Langston,
a slave of mixed African and Native American heritage. His
parents died when he was five year old. Upon his father’s
death, all of his father’s slaves, including Langston, were freed
in compliance with wishes expressed in Quarles’ will. Langston
and his brothers then moved to Oberlin, Ohio, to live with
family friends.
The John M. Langston Bar Association is the oldest bar association in
California serving the African legal community. It started as the “Langston
Law Club” in 1943 by attorney Crispus Attucks Wright and other pioneering
African American attorneys in Los Angeles. They founded the club in
response to other bar associations’ policy of excluding African Americans
as members. The Club later changed its name to the John M. Langston
Bar Association.
California serving the African legal community. It started as the “Langston
Law Club” in 1943 by attorney Crispus Attucks Wright and other pioneering
African American attorneys in Los Angeles. They founded the club in
response to other bar associations’ policy of excluding African Americans
as members. The Club later changed its name to the John M. Langston
Bar Association.
He enrolled in Oberlin College at the age of fourteen, and earned both a bachelor's and
master's degree from the institution. Langston later applied to Albany Law School in New York,
and was frank in disclosing that he was of African ancestry. Upon his rejection, it was strongly
intimated to him that if he were to claim other than African blood, he would have been admitted.
Denied admission into law school, Langston studied law under attorney Philemon Bliss and
became a member of the Ohio bar in 1854. He was the first African American to be so admitted.
He was later admitted to the Virginia Bar, and quickly developed a reputation as an eloquent and
persuasive orator, with a unique gift for impromptu speaking.
Langston went on to be an active participant in the Abolitionist movement, organizing antislavery
societies on both local and state levels. He helped runaway slaves escape to the North along
the Ohio section of the Underground Railroad, and was a founding member and President of the
National Equal Rights League, which fought for the voting rights of African Americans.
During the Civil War, Langston recruited African Americans to fight for the Union Army, enlisting
hundreds of men for duty in the United States Colored Troops. After the war, he was appointed
Inspector General for the Freedmen's Bureau, a Federal organization that assisted freed slaves.
Langston moved to Washington, D.C. in 1868 to establish and serve as Dean of the Howard
University School of Law - the first African American law school in the country. He became
President of the school in 1872.
President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Langston a member of the Board of Health of the District
of Columbia, and he was elected its secretary in 1875. In 1877, he resigned to become U.S.
Minister to Haiti. He returned to Virginia in 1885, and was named the first President of Virginia
Normal and Collegiate Institute (now Virginia State University).
In 1888, Langston ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican. He lost
to his Democratic opponent, but contested the results of the election. After an 18-month fight, he
was declared the winner and awarded the Congressional Seat. He served for the remaining six
months of the term, but lost his bid for reelection. Langston was the first African American
elected to Congress from Virginia, and he was the only one for another century.
After a lifetime of “firsts” and numerous historical accomplishments, Langston died in his
Washington home on November 15, 1897.
John Mercer Langston was the uncle of world renowned poet, Langston Hughes (born James
Mercer Langston Hughes - named after his uncle).
master's degree from the institution. Langston later applied to Albany Law School in New York,
and was frank in disclosing that he was of African ancestry. Upon his rejection, it was strongly
intimated to him that if he were to claim other than African blood, he would have been admitted.
Denied admission into law school, Langston studied law under attorney Philemon Bliss and
became a member of the Ohio bar in 1854. He was the first African American to be so admitted.
He was later admitted to the Virginia Bar, and quickly developed a reputation as an eloquent and
persuasive orator, with a unique gift for impromptu speaking.
Langston went on to be an active participant in the Abolitionist movement, organizing antislavery
societies on both local and state levels. He helped runaway slaves escape to the North along
the Ohio section of the Underground Railroad, and was a founding member and President of the
National Equal Rights League, which fought for the voting rights of African Americans.
During the Civil War, Langston recruited African Americans to fight for the Union Army, enlisting
hundreds of men for duty in the United States Colored Troops. After the war, he was appointed
Inspector General for the Freedmen's Bureau, a Federal organization that assisted freed slaves.
Langston moved to Washington, D.C. in 1868 to establish and serve as Dean of the Howard
University School of Law - the first African American law school in the country. He became
President of the school in 1872.
President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Langston a member of the Board of Health of the District
of Columbia, and he was elected its secretary in 1875. In 1877, he resigned to become U.S.
Minister to Haiti. He returned to Virginia in 1885, and was named the first President of Virginia
Normal and Collegiate Institute (now Virginia State University).
In 1888, Langston ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican. He lost
to his Democratic opponent, but contested the results of the election. After an 18-month fight, he
was declared the winner and awarded the Congressional Seat. He served for the remaining six
months of the term, but lost his bid for reelection. Langston was the first African American
elected to Congress from Virginia, and he was the only one for another century.
After a lifetime of “firsts” and numerous historical accomplishments, Langston died in his
Washington home on November 15, 1897.
John Mercer Langston was the uncle of world renowned poet, Langston Hughes (born James
Mercer Langston Hughes - named after his uncle).
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