Thomas McCants Stewart
Encyclopedia
Thomas McCants Stewart was an African American
clergyman, lawyer and civil rights leader.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
, he became one of the first black students to enroll in the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1874. He graduated with B.A.
and LL.B.
degrees, and joined the law firm of South Carolina Congressman Robert B. Elliott
. A close friend of Booker T. Washington
, Stewart followed his philosophies of self-reliance. He moved to New York in 1880, and eventually to Liberia
in 1883, to serve as a professor at Liberia College. After two years, he returned to the United States, lived in New York and later Hawaii, before moving to London
in 1905. In 1911 he was appointed Associated Justice of the Liberian Supreme Court
. His criticism of president Daniel Edward Howard
, however, resulted in his removal from the court in 1914. Stewart returned to London, and in 1921 he settled on the Virgin Islands
, where he established a legal practice with Christopher Payne
. He died in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
in 1923.
His son, McCants Stewart
, was the first black lawyer in Oregon
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
clergyman, lawyer and civil rights leader.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, he became one of the first black students to enroll in the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1874. He graduated with B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degrees, and joined the law firm of South Carolina Congressman Robert B. Elliott
Robert B. Elliott
Robert Brown Elliott was an African-American member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina, serving from 1871-1874.-Early life and education:...
. A close friend of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
, Stewart followed his philosophies of self-reliance. He moved to New York in 1880, and eventually to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in 1883, to serve as a professor at Liberia College. After two years, he returned to the United States, lived in New York and later Hawaii, before moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1905. In 1911 he was appointed Associated Justice of the Liberian Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Liberia
The Supreme Court of Liberia is the highest judicial body in the West African nation of Liberia. The court consists of the Chief Justice of Liberia and four Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
. His criticism of president Daniel Edward Howard
Daniel Edward Howard
Daniel Edward Howard was the 16th President of Liberia, serving from 1912 to 1920. Born in the town of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, he worked his way up through the civil service to become secretary of the True Whig Party, the country's only political party at the time.Howard was elected...
, however, resulted in his removal from the court in 1914. Stewart returned to London, and in 1921 he settled on the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, where he established a legal practice with Christopher Payne
Christopher Payne
Christopher Harrison Payne was a prominent African American religious, educational and political leader of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Despite being born in the American South during the time of slavery, Payne rose to a level of prominence achieved by few, regardless of race...
. He died in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
in 1923.
His son, McCants Stewart
McCants Stewart
McCants Stewart was an American lawyer. Born to a prominent attorney in New York, Stewart studied law in Minnesota and became the first African American lawyer in the state of Oregon. His lack of financial success in Oregon led him to eventually move to San Francisco, where failing vision led...
, was the first black lawyer in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
External links
- Stewart, T. McCants (1853-1923) at BlackPast.org