Robert B. Elliott
Encyclopedia
Robert Brown Elliott was an African-American member of the United States House of Representatives
from South Carolina
, serving from 1871-1874.
to West Indian immigrants, and to have graduated from Eton College
. But, biographers have been unable to corroborate these facts.
in 1867 at the age of 25, where he established a law practice. Elliott helped organize the local Republican Party
and served in the state constitutional convention
.
In 1868 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
. The next year he was appointed assistant adjutant-general; he was the first African-American commanding general of the South Carolina National Guard
. As part of his job, he helped form a state militia to fight the Ku Klux Klan
.
Elliott was elected as a Republican to the Forty-second and Forty-third United States Congress
. He "delivered a celebrated speech" in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1875
. He resigned on November 1, 1874, to fight political corruption
in South Carolina. He served again in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he was elected as Speaker of the House.
He ran unsuccessfully for South Carolina Attorney General
in 1876. In the state elections that year, white Democrats regained dominance of the state legislature. The following year, the federal government pulled its last troops out of the South and ended Reconstruction. With the suppression of black voting in 1876, Elliott failed to gain re-election.
He moved to New Orleans where he set up a private law practice.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, serving from 1871-1874.
Early life and education
Robert Brown Elliott's early life is a mystery. He claimed to have been born in Liverpool, EnglandLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to West Indian immigrants, and to have graduated from Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
. But, biographers have been unable to corroborate these facts.
Career
Elliott arrived in South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in 1867 at the age of 25, where he established a law practice. Elliott helped organize the local Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and served in the state constitutional convention
South Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of South Carolina is the governing document of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It describes the structure and function of the state's government. The current constitution took effect on December 4, 1895...
.
In 1868 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
. The next year he was appointed assistant adjutant-general; he was the first African-American commanding general of the South Carolina National Guard
South Carolina National Guard
The South Carolina National Guard consists of the South Carolina Army National Guard and the South Carolina Air National Guard . American law specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered...
. As part of his job, he helped form a state militia to fight the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
.
Elliott was elected as a Republican to the Forty-second and Forty-third United States Congress
43rd United States Congress
The Forty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1873 to March 4, 1875, during the fifth and sixth...
. He "delivered a celebrated speech" in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1875
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a United States federal law proposed by Senator Charles Sumner and Representative Benjamin F. Butler in 1870...
. He resigned on November 1, 1874, to fight political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
in South Carolina. He served again in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he was elected as Speaker of the House.
He ran unsuccessfully for South Carolina Attorney General
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
in 1876. In the state elections that year, white Democrats regained dominance of the state legislature. The following year, the federal government pulled its last troops out of the South and ended Reconstruction. With the suppression of black voting in 1876, Elliott failed to gain re-election.
He moved to New Orleans where he set up a private law practice.