Charles Sumner

Charles Sumner
Brady-Handy Photograph Collection · Public domain · source
Name	Charles Sumner
State	Massachusetts
Term	April 24, 1851 – March 11, 1874
Preceded	Daniel Webster
Succeeded	William B. Washburn
Party	Free Soil, Republican

Charles Sumner was a prominent American politician and United States Senator from Massachusetts, serving from 1851 until his death in 1874. He was a leading figure in the Abolitionist movement, working closely with fellow abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass. Sumner's strong stance against slavery and his advocacy for equal rights earned him recognition from notable figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. His commitment to social justice was also influenced by his friendships with Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Greenleaf Whittier.

● Early Life and Education

Charles Sumner was born on January 6, 1811, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Charles Pinckney Sumner and Relief Jacob. He attended Boston Latin School and later enrolled in Harvard University, where he studied law under the guidance of Joseph Story and Simon Greenleaf. During his time at Harvard Law School, Sumner developed a strong interest in classical literature and history, which was fostered by his relationships with George Ticknor and Edward Everett. After graduating from Harvard University in 1830 and Harvard Law School in 1834, Sumner traveled to Europe, visiting England, France, and Italy, where he met notable figures like Lord Brougham and Alexis de Tocqueville.

● Career

Sumner began his career as a lawyer in Boston, quickly gaining recognition for his skills in oratory and jurisprudence. He became involved in politics and was elected to the United States Senate in 1851 as a member of the Free Soil Party, with the support of Horace Mann and Salmon P. Chase. Sumner's senatorial career was marked by his strong advocacy for abolition and civil rights, which often put him at odds with pro-slavery politicians like John C. Calhoun and Jefferson Davis. He was a key figure in the Republican Party, working closely with Abraham Lincoln, William Seward, and Thaddeus Stevens to advance the party's anti-slavery agenda.

● Abolitionism and

the Civil War Sumner's commitment to abolitionism led him to deliver several notable speeches, including "The Crime Against Kansas" and "The Barbarism of Slavery", which were widely publicized in The New York Tribune and The Liberator. He was a strong supporter of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, working closely with Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison to secure their passage. During the American Civil War, Sumner played a crucial role in shaping Reconstruction policies, advocating for the Reconstruction Amendments and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. He also worked with Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman to ensure the Union victory and the defeat of the Confederacy.

● Later Life and Legacy

After the Civil War, Sumner continued to advocate for civil rights and social justice, supporting the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Ku Klux Klan Act. He remained a prominent figure in the Republican Party, working with Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield to advance the party's progressive agenda. Sumner's legacy as a champion of human rights and equality has been recognized by numerous institutions, including Harvard University, which established the Charles Sumner School in his honor. His commitment to social justice has also been celebrated by notable figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr..

● Personal Life

Sumner never married and dedicated his life to his career and social activism. He was a close friend of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and was often invited to Saturday Club meetings, where he engaged in discussions with other notable figures like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.. Sumner's personal life was also marked by his strong relationships with his family, including his brother George Sumner and his cousin Charles Sumner Bird. Despite his busy schedule, Sumner found time to enjoy literature and music, often attending performances at the Boston Theatre and the Handel and Haydn Society.