Macon Bolling Allen
Encyclopedia
Macon Bolling Allen was an African American
lawyer and abolitionist. He was the first African American
licensed to practice law in the United States
and the first Black American Justice of the Peace
. Macon Bolling Allen was accepted to the bar in 1844 in Portland, Maine
. Shortly after being admitted as the first licensed Black American attorney to the bar in Boston
(1845), he became the first Black American Justice of the Peace. After the American Civil War
, Allen moved to Charleston
, South Carolina
, where he believed his legal skills could be more useful. In November 1872, he was elected judge of the Inferior Court of Charleston.
in 1816. He grew up a free man. Macon learned to read and write on his own and eventually landed his first a job as a school teacher, where he further improved his reading and writing skills.
and earning his recommendation, Allen was declared a citizen of Maine and given his license to practice law on July 3, 1844. It was hard to find work in Maine because whites were unwilling to have a black man representing them in court. In 1845 Allen moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he met his wife Hannah Allen. They had five sons together. Allen passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam on May 5, 1845. (Shortly afterwards, he and Robert Morris
opened the first black law office in the United States.) In the book "Sarah's Long Walk the authors state that there is "no evidence that Allen became involved in the black leadership of the city"(p. 6). and that "There is no evidence that he and Morris ever met"(p. 6). Henry Bodwich, a white abolitionist, wrote the following regarding Allen: "there is a method of exclusion more terrible than merely a formal one... the gentleman alluded to would starve in that profession." Discouraged at his prospects in Boston
, Allen wrote a letter to an abolitonist in New York City
and relocated there (Kendall, 6). Allen soon set his sights even higher; in 1848 he passed another rigorous exam to become Justice of the Peace
for Middlesex County, Massachusetts
. In addition to his license to practice law, he is believed to be the first black man to hold a judiciary position in the United States
.
, South Carolina
after the American Civil War
to open a new legal practice. In 1873, he was appointed as a judge in the Inferior Court of Charleston and one year later was elected as probate judge for Charleston County, South Carolina
.
After Reconstruction, Allen moved again, this time to Washington, D.C.
where he worked as an attorney for the Land and Improvement Association. He continued to practice law until his death at age 78. Macon Bolling Allen was survived by his wife and one son, Arthur Allen.
1840 Moves to Portland, Maine
1844 Changes his name to Macon Bolling Allen
1844 Passes the bar in Maine on July 3
1845 In May, Allen walks 50 miles to take the bar exam in Worcester, MA (Kendrick, p. 6)
1845 Moves to Boston, Massachusetts, and is admitted to the bar on May 3
1846 Writes letter to The Liberator
1848 Becomes justice of the peace for Middlesex County
1868 Moves to Charleston, South Carolina
1872 Becomes a partner in William J. Whipper and Robert Brown
1873 Elected judge of the Inferior Court of Charleston in February
1874 Elected to the office of judge probate for Charleston County
1894 Dies in Washington, D.C. on October 10
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...
lawyer and abolitionist. He was the first African American
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...
licensed to practice law in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the first Black American Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Macon Bolling Allen was accepted to the bar in 1844 in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. Shortly after being admitted as the first licensed Black American attorney to the bar in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
(1845), he became the first Black American Justice of the Peace. After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Allen moved to Charleston
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...
, South Carolina
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...
, where he believed his legal skills could be more useful. In November 1872, he was elected judge of the Inferior Court of Charleston.
Early life
Allen was born Allen Macon Bolling (Later changed his name to Macon Bolling Allen) in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1816. He grew up a free man. Macon learned to read and write on his own and eventually landed his first a job as a school teacher, where he further improved his reading and writing skills.
Practicing law
After passing the bar exam in MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and earning his recommendation, Allen was declared a citizen of Maine and given his license to practice law on July 3, 1844. It was hard to find work in Maine because whites were unwilling to have a black man representing them in court. In 1845 Allen moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he met his wife Hannah Allen. They had five sons together. Allen passed the Massachusetts Bar Exam on May 5, 1845. (Shortly afterwards, he and Robert Morris
Robert Morris (lawyer)
Robert Morris was an African-American attorney. He was one of the first black lawyers in the United States. He has been called "the first really successful colored lawyer in America."...
opened the first black law office in the United States.) In the book "Sarah's Long Walk the authors state that there is "no evidence that Allen became involved in the black leadership of the city"(p. 6). and that "There is no evidence that he and Morris ever met"(p. 6). Henry Bodwich, a white abolitionist, wrote the following regarding Allen: "there is a method of exclusion more terrible than merely a formal one... the gentleman alluded to would starve in that profession." Discouraged at his prospects in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Allen wrote a letter to an abolitonist in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and relocated there (Kendall, 6). Allen soon set his sights even higher; in 1848 he passed another rigorous exam to become Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
. In addition to his license to practice law, he is believed to be the first black man to hold a judiciary position in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Later years
Allen moved to CharlestonCharleston, 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...
, South Carolina
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...
after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to open a new legal practice. In 1873, he was appointed as a judge in the Inferior Court of Charleston and one year later was elected as probate judge for Charleston County, South Carolina
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...
.
After Reconstruction, Allen moved again, this time to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he worked as an attorney for the Land and Improvement Association. He continued to practice law until his death at age 78. Macon Bolling Allen was survived by his wife and one son, Arthur Allen.
Chronology
1816 Born in Indiana1840 Moves to Portland, Maine
1844 Changes his name to Macon Bolling Allen
1844 Passes the bar in Maine on July 3
1845 In May, Allen walks 50 miles to take the bar exam in Worcester, MA (Kendrick, p. 6)
1845 Moves to Boston, Massachusetts, and is admitted to the bar on May 3
1846 Writes letter to The Liberator
1848 Becomes justice of the peace for Middlesex County
1868 Moves to Charleston, South Carolina
1872 Becomes a partner in William J. Whipper and Robert Brown
1873 Elected judge of the Inferior Court of Charleston in February
1874 Elected to the office of judge probate for Charleston County
1894 Dies in Washington, D.C. on October 10