Quick Facts

NAME: John Mercer Langston
OCCUPATION: U.S. Representative
BIRTH DATE: December 14, 1829
DEATH DATE: November 15, 1897
EDUCATION: Oberlin College
PLACE OF BIRTH: Louisa County, Virginia
PLACE OF DEATH: Washington, D.C.

Best Known For

Black leader, educator and diplomat John Mercer Langston is believed to have been the first black person ever elected to public office in the United States.

John Mercer Langston biography

Profile

John Mercer Langston was born December 14, 1829 in Louisa County, Virginia. After college, he quickly became a leader among free blacks and was elected to local offices. In 1864 he helped organize the National Equal Rights League, of which he was the first president. In 1888 he was a Republican candidate from Virginia for the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in Congress from 1890 to 1891.

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John Mercer Langston

APA Style

John Mercer Langston. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 01:03, May 20, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265.

Harvard Style

John Mercer Langston. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265 [Accessed 20 May 2013].

MLA Style

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MHRA Style

"John Mercer Langston," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265 [accessed May 20, 2013].

Chicago Style

"John Mercer Langston," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265 (accessed May 20, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

John Mercer Langston [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 20] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265.

Bluebook Style

John Mercer Langston, http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265 (last visited May 20, 2013).

AMA Style

John Mercer Langston. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/john-mercer-langston-9373265. Accessed May 20, 2013.