James Edward O'Hara – February 26th in African American History
By Chimsima Zuhri on February 26, 2013 in African American History, February, Law, Politics
Tags: House of Representatives
February 26, 1844 James Edward O'Hara, lawyer and congressman, was born in New York City.
O'Hara studied law in North Carolina and at Howard University and served as a clerk for the 1868 North Carolina state convention that drafted a new state constitution.
In 1871, he completed his law apprenticeship and passed the North Carolina bar exam. From 1872 to 1876, O'Hara served as chairman of the board of commissioners for Halifax, North Carolina and from 1883 to 1887 he served as a Republican member in the United States House of Representatives. He was the second African American elected to Congress since the Civil War from North Carolina. During his time in Congress, O'Hara introduced one of the first bills to make lynching a federal crime. He also introduced a bill to prohibit gender based salary discrimination in education. After being defeated for reelection, he resumed his private law practice and died September 15, 1905.
Jonathon Jasper Wright – February 19th in African American History February 19, 1885 Jonathan Jasper Wright, lawyer and South Carolina...
February 11th in African American History – Jonathon Jasper Wright February 11, 1840 Jonathon Jasper Wright, lawyer and judge on...
March 9th in African American History – Floyd Bixler McKissick March 9, 1922 Floyd Bixler McKissick, lawyer and civil rights...
October 21st in African American History – Charles Edward Anderson October 21, 1994 Charles Edward Anderson, the first African American...
December 16th in African American History – Minnie Evans December 16, 1987 Minnie Evans, folk artist, died. Evans was...
← Joseph "Cyclone Joe" Williams – February 25th in African American History
Charlayne Hunter-Gault – February 27th in African American History →
January 28th in African American History – Ronald Ervin McNair
February 13th in African American History – Malvin Russell Goode
January 31st in African American History – Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson
Henry Jay Lewis – January 26th in African American History
May 7th in African American History – Thelma Jackson Houston