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Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, An Eloquent Negro Congressman From Calhoun’s Old District, South Carolina

Page from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, February 14, 1874, with articles and prints. One print shows a head and shoulders portrait of Robert Brown Elliott, captioned, “Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, an eloquent Negro Congressman from Calhoun’s old district, South Carolina.” Related article reads, “Hon. Robert B. Elliott. Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, whose portrait appears in this issue, is the representative of the South Carolina District that for many years sent John C. Calhoun to Congress. He was born in Boston, but is apparently of mixed African blood. After a voyage to England, he passed through the High Holbom Academy in London, and graduated from Eton College in 1859. In 1866 he went from Massachusetts to Charleston, and began his career there as a printer in a newspaper edited by his present colleague, Mr. Ransier. In 1868 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and during the same year he was sent to Congress. In March, 1869, he was Assistant Adjutant-General, which position he held until he was elected to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congress. He is 31 years old, and an eloquent orator of experience. In the early part of last month he delivered his great speech on the Civil Rights Bill, in reply to Alexander H. Stephens.”/tiles/collection/6/6745.xml
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Close up of print showing a head and shoulders portrait of Robert Brown Elliott, captioned, “Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, an eloquent Negro Congressman from Calhoun’s old district, South Carolina”/tiles/collection/6/6746.xml
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Page from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, February 14, 1874, with articles and prints. One print shows a head and shoulders portrait of Robert Brown Elliott, captioned, “Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, an eloquent Negro Congressman from Calhoun’s old district, South Carolina.” Related article reads, “Hon. Robert B. Elliott. Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, whose portrait appears in this issue, is the representative of the South Carolina District that for many years sent John C. Calhoun to Congress. He was born in Boston, but is apparently of mixed African blood. After a voyage to England, he passed through the High Holbom Academy in London, and graduated from Eton College in 1859. In 1866 he went from Massachusetts to Charleston, and began his career there as a printer in a newspaper edited by his present colleague, Mr. Ransier. In 1868 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and during the same year he was sent to Congress. In March, 1869, he was Assistant Adjutant-General, which position he held until he was elected to the Forty-second and Forty-third Congress. He is 31 years old, and an eloquent orator of experience. In the early part of last month he delivered his great speech on the Civil Rights Bill, in reply to Alexander H. Stephens.”
Close up of print showing a head and shoulders portrait of Robert Brown Elliott, captioned, “Hon. Robert Brown Elliott, an eloquent Negro Congressman from Calhoun’s old district, South Carolina”
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Date

1874-02-14

Publication

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

Publisher

Frank Leslie

Dimensions

15 3/8 x 10 5/8 in. (39.1 x 27 cm)

Accession Number

2009.116.004

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

Robert Brown Elliott’s portrait, at upper right, accompanies a profile that highlighted his education in England and experience as a member of South Carolina’s 1868 Constitutional Convention. Elliott, who represented the same district as John C. Calhoun, is also praised for his public speaking skills. The article described the 31-year-old as “an eloquent orator of experience,” particularly with regard to “his great speech on the Civil Rights Bill, in reply to Alexander H. Stephens.”

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov