Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/350

 LANGSTON

LANIER

of the United States National Zoological park, for which he was instrumental in obtaining the original appropriation from congress, and every detail of which work engaged his attention. He also founded, under the institution, the Astro- physical Observatory.

LANGSTON, John fiercer, representative, was born at Louisa Court House, Va., Dec. 14, 1829, the youngest of three sons of Capt. Ralph Quarles by Lucy Langston, a negro slave. His father died in 1834, and by his will freed the boys. John was then taken to Ohio, and was placed in the family of Col. William D. Gooch, a friend of his father's, where he received a primary edu- cation. He was a student at the more advanced colored schools of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated from Oberlin, A.B., 1849, A.M., and B.D., 1853. He studied law in the office of Phil- emon Bliss, at Elyria, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1855; being the first colored man ad- mitted to the bar in the United States, and he practised in Ohio, 1855-67. He was clerk of the township of Brownhelm in 1855; was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the United States in 1867, upon motion of James A. Garfield, and removing to Washington, D.C., he resumed his practice there. He was inspector general of the Freedman's bureau, 1868-70; a professor and dean of the law department of Howard university, 1869-76, which department he established, organ- ized and conducted according to his own methods, and he was elected vice-president and was acting president of the university in 1874. He was a member of the board of health of the District of Columbia, and its attorney, 1871-78; U.S. min- ister-resident and consul-general of Port-au- Prince, Hayti, and charge d'affaires near the government of Santo Domingo, 1877-85. He was then employed by a leading commercial house to act as their attorney in the West Indies, and he returned to the United States after an absence of two months to accept the presidency of the Vir- ginia Normal and Collegiate institute, which office he held, 1885-88. He was a Republican represent- ative from the fourth Virginia district in the 51st congress, 1889-91, and claimed to liave been re-elected but counted out of the 52d congress, but declined to contest the seat. He was nomi- nated by acclamation for the 53d congress by the Republican convention held in Burkeville, Sep- tember, 1892, but declined to be a candidate. He was elected a fellow of the Victoria Institute of England. The honorary degree of LL.D. was con- ferred upon him by Howard university in 1875. He is the author of: Freedom and Citizenship (1883); and of many articles, letters and ad- dresses on educated and political topics, publish- ed in magazines, newspapers and pamphlets. He died at Washington, D.C., Nov. 15, 1897.

LANQWORTHY, Edward, delegate, was born in Savannah, Ga., of obscure parentage. He was educated and maintained by the Bethesda Or- phan House, founded by the Rev. George White- field, and became a teacher in the school conduct- ed by that institution. He was one of the signers of a card, published in the Georgia Gazette, Sept. 7, 1774, which protested against the acceptance of certain patriotic resolutions adopted by the citizens of Savannah at a meeting held Aug. 10, 1774. His political views changed within the year, however, and he hel^jed to organize the Georgia council of safety, and became secretary of that body Dec. 11, 1775. He was elected a delegate from Georgia to the Continental con- gress in 1777, was re-elected in 1778, and with George Walton and Edward Telfair, of Georgia, signed the Articles of Confederation. He removed soon after to Elkstown, Md., and announced that he was engaged in writing a history of Geor- gia, but at his death all efforts to find the manu- script failed. He died in Elkstown, Md., but the date of his death, just before the beginning of the 19th century, is unrecorded.

LANHAM, Samuel Willis Tucker, represen- tative, was born in Spartanburg, S.C., July 4, 1846; son of James Madison and Louisa D' Aubrey (Tucker) Lanham, and grandson of Joseph Lan- ham and of Samuel Willis Tucker. He entered the 3d South Carolina regiment when sixteen and served in the Confederate army until the close of the civil war. He was married, Sept. 4, 1866, to Sarah Beona, daughter of Garland Thompson and Susannah (Thomas) Meng, of Union county, S.C. In 1866 he removed to Red River county, Texas, and was admitted to the bar in 1869. He set- tled in practice at Weatherford; was district attorney for the thirteenth Texas district, 1871- 76; presidential elector in 1880, and a Democratic representative from the eleventh district in the 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st and 52d congresses, 1888-93. He declined renomination for the 53d congress in 1892, and was a representative from Texas in the 55th, 56th and .57th congresses, 1897-1903. He was elected Governor of Texas in 1902.

LANIER, Sidney, poet, was born in Macon, Ga., Feb. 3, 1842; son of Robert S. and Mary (Anderson) Lanier. His father was of Huguenot and his mother of Scotch descent. He entered the sophomore class of Oglethorpe college, Mid- way, Ga., in 1856, and was graduated in 1860 with honors, having lost a year during which he clerked in the Macon post-office. He was a tutor at Oglethorpe college, 1860-61, and in April, 1861, enlisted in the 2d Georgia battalion. He served in the battles of Seven Pines, Drewry's Bluff and the seven days' fighting about Richmond. He was then transferred to the signal service at Petersburg. In 1863 his detachment was mount-