Charles Sumner
1811 – 1874

Charles Sumner

American abolitionist and statesman (1811–1874)

politicianlawyerwriter
Born
1811-01-06, Boston
Died
1874-03-11
Birthplace state
Massachusetts

Biography

Charles Sumner was an American lawyer and statesman who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1851 until his death in 1874. Before and during the American Civil War, he was a leading American advocate for the abolition of slavery, and after the war he was a key figure in the Reconstruction era, during which he and other Radical Republicans successfully fought to end slavery and ensure basic rights for Black Americans. He continued advocating for racial equality until his death, lobbying in his final days for a civil rights bill that served as a model for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Historians credit Sumner with coining the phrase "equality before the law," which he first used as part of an early attempt to integrate Boston's public school system.

Occupation

Charles Sumner is recorded as a politician, a lawyer and a writer, born in Massachusetts (1811–1874).

Connections to Massachusetts

Charles Sumner was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1811. Explore other notable figures from Massachusetts, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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More notable figures from Massachusetts

Other historical figures born in Massachusetts, ranked by historical prominence.

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Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
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Benjamin Franklin
American polymath and statesman (1706–1790)
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 (1924-2018)
John Adams
John Adams
Founding Father, U.S. president from 1797 to 1801
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
President of the United States from 1825 to 1829
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American philosopher (1803–1882)

Frequently asked about Charles Sumner

Who was Charles Sumner?
Charles Sumner was American abolitionist and statesman (1811–1874), born in Massachusetts (1811 – 1874).
When and where was Charles Sumner born?
Charles Sumner was born on 1811-01-06 in Boston.
When did Charles Sumner die?
Charles died on 1874-03-11.
What was Charles Sumner known for?
Charles Sumner is recorded as a politician, a lawyer and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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