John Mercer Langston, future congressman and founder of Howard University's law school, is born free in Virginia.
At a Glance
- Date
- 14 December 1829
- Location
- Louisa County, Virginia
- Key people
- John Mercer Langston
- Category
- Politics & Government
- Source
- Biographical records · U.S. House History, Art & Archives
What It Meant Then
He became one of the first Black elected officials and a leading lawyer of his era.
What It Means Now
Langston's career bridged abolition, Reconstruction, and Black higher education.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “John Mercer Langston Is Born.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/john-mercer-langston-is-born/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). John Mercer Langston Is Born. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/john-mercer-langston-is-born/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “John Mercer Langston Is Born.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/john-mercer-langston-is-born/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.