Francis Lewis Cardozo
Encyclopedia
Francis Lewis Cardozo was a clergyman, politician, and educator. He was the first African American
to hold a statewide office in the United States
. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina
and died in Washington, DC.
and a shipbuilder.
In 1858, he matriculated at the University of Glasgow
in Scotland
. Later, he attended seminaries in Edinburgh
and London
. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister.
In 1864, he became pastor of the Temple Street Congregational Church in New Haven, Connecticut
. He married Catherine Rowena Howell. In 1865, he became an agent of the American Missionary Association
in Charleston, South Carolina. He succeeded his brother, Thomas, as superintendent of an American Missionary Association school. He rebuilt this school into the Avery Normal Institute
, which educated African Americans.
When elected secretary of state in 1868, Cardozo became the first African American to hold a statewide office in the United States
. He reformed the South Carolina Land Commission, which distributed land to former slaves.
He was elected state treasurer in 1872. After he did not cooperate with corruption, some legislators unsuccessfully tried to impeach Cardozo in 1874. He was reelected in 1874 and 1876. In the turbulent period following the election
, Democrats
regained the state government. After Governor Wade Hampton III
demanded his resignation, Cardozo left office on May 1, 1877.
He was tried for conspiracy in November, 1877. Despite questionable evidence, he was found guilty and served over six months in jail. After federal election fraud charges were dropped against some Democrats, he was pardoned by Governor William Dunlap Simpson
in 1879.
He moved to Washington, DC, and accepted a position with the Treasury Department
.
Cardozo died in Washington on July 22, 1903.
Cardozo Senior High School in northwest Washington, DC, is named for Francis Cardozo.
He was a distant relative of former United States Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo
. His granddaughter, Eslanda Cardozo Goode
married the concert singer Paul Robeson
.
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...
to hold a statewide office in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was 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...
and died in Washington, DC.
Early years
Francis Cardozo was the son of a free black woman, Lydia Weston, and a Portuguese-Jewish man, Isaac Cardozo, who worked at the customhouse. He attended schools for free blacks. Cardozo worked as a carpenterCarpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and a shipbuilder.
In 1858, he matriculated at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Later, he attended seminaries in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and 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...
. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister.
In 1864, he became pastor of the Temple Street Congregational Church in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. He married Catherine Rowena Howell. In 1865, he became an agent of the American Missionary Association
American Missionary Association
The American Missionary Association was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on September 3, 1846 in Albany, New York. The main purpose of this organization was to abolish slavery, to educate African Americans, to promote racial equality, and to promote Christian values...
in Charleston, South Carolina. He succeeded his brother, Thomas, as superintendent of an American Missionary Association school. He rebuilt this school into the Avery Normal Institute
Charleston Historic District
The Charleston Historic District, also known as Charleston Old and Historic District, is a historic district in Charleston, South Carolina. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960....
, which educated African Americans.
Political career
He was a delegate to the 1868 South Carolina constitutional convention. As chair of the education committee, he advocated integrated public schools.When elected secretary of state in 1868, Cardozo became the first African American to hold a statewide office in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He reformed the South Carolina Land Commission, which distributed land to former slaves.
He was elected state treasurer in 1872. After he did not cooperate with corruption, some legislators unsuccessfully tried to impeach Cardozo in 1874. He was reelected in 1874 and 1876. In the turbulent period following the election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1876
The 1876 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1876 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The election campaign was a referendum on the Radical Republican-led state government and their Reconstruction policies...
, Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
regained the state government. After Governor Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
demanded his resignation, Cardozo left office on May 1, 1877.
He was tried for conspiracy in November, 1877. Despite questionable evidence, he was found guilty and served over six months in jail. After federal election fraud charges were dropped against some Democrats, he was pardoned by Governor William Dunlap Simpson
William Dunlap Simpson
----William Dunlap Simpson was the 78th Governor of South Carolina from February 26, 1879, when the previous governor, Wade Hampton, resigned to take his seat in the U.S...
in 1879.
He moved to Washington, DC, and accepted a position with the Treasury Department
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
.
Educator
In 1884, Cardozo returned to education as a principal of the Colored Preparatory High School. He introduced a business curriculum and made it a leading school for African Americans. He served as principal until 1896.Cardozo died in Washington on July 22, 1903.
Cardozo Senior High School in northwest Washington, DC, is named for Francis Cardozo.
He was a distant relative of former United States Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo
Benjamin N. Cardozo
Benjamin Nathan Cardozo was a well-known American lawyer and associate Supreme Court Justice. Cardozo is remembered for his significant influence on the development of American common law in the 20th century, in addition to his modesty, philosophy, and vivid prose style...
. His granddaughter, Eslanda Cardozo Goode
Eslanda Goode Robeson
Eslanda Goode Robeson, the wife and business manager of Paul Robeson, was an American anthropologist, author, actor and activist.-Early years and marriage:...
married the concert singer Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
.