Alonzo J. Ransier
Encyclopedia
Alonzo Jacob Ransier was an African-American politician in South Carolina
. He was the state's first black lieutenant governor and later was a Republican
United States Congressman from 1873 until 1875.
He was born free in Charleston, South Carolina
. He worked as a shipping clerk until he was appointed state registrar of elections in 1865. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives
from 1868 to 1869 and also was a member of the state constitutional convention during that time. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 1870. He was elected to the Forty-third United States Congress from the 2nd Congressional District.
In Congress he fought for a civil rights bill. He also backed high tariff
s and opposed a federal salary increase. He campaigned for President Ulysses S. Grant
and advocated a six-year presidential term.
After leaving Congress in 1875 he worked as a collector for the Internal Revenue Service
.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He was the state's first black lieutenant governor and later was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
United States Congressman from 1873 until 1875.
He was born free 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 worked as a shipping clerk until he was appointed state registrar of elections in 1865. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
from 1868 to 1869 and also was a member of the state constitutional convention during that time. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 1870. He was elected to the Forty-third United States Congress from the 2nd Congressional District.
In Congress he fought for a civil rights bill. He also backed high tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s and opposed a federal salary increase. He campaigned for President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and advocated a six-year presidential term.
After leaving Congress in 1875 he worked as a collector for the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
.