Thomas E. Miller
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ezekiel Miller was an American
politician, educator, and lawyer. An African-American from South Carolina
, he was a prominent leader in the struggle for civil rights
in the American South during and after Reconstruction. He was a school commissioner, state legislator, U.S. Representative
, lawyer, and college president.
Miller was born in Ferrebeeville, South Carolina, to Richard Miller and Mary Ferrebee. In 1851, he moved with his parents to Charleston, South Carolina
, where he attended a school for "free colored" children. When the Civil War
ended, he moved to Hudson
, New York
. Miller graduated from Lincoln University
in Pennsylvania
in 1872.
Miller moved to Grahamville, South Carolina and served as school commissioner of Beaufort County
in 1872. He studied law at the South Carolina College
, graduating in 1875, and was admitted to the bar. Miller was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives
in 1874, serving until 1880. He was elected to the South Carolina Senate
in 1880, serving until 1882. He was nominated for lieutenant governor but did not enter the race.
In 1888, Miller ran for U.S. Representative
from the 7th Congressional District
, against Democrat
candidate William Elliot. Elliott won the official vote count, 8,358 to 7,003 for Miller. However, Miller contested the election result, and pressed allegations that many properly registered black voters had not been able to cast their ballots. The House Committee of Elections ruled in his favor, and Miller was seated in the Fifty-First Congress in 1890. He was defeated by Elliot in the election of 1890.
Miller was re-elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1894, and was a delegate to the 1895 South Carolina constitutional convention. Because the new constitution effectively disenfranchised African American citizens, he and five other black delegates refused to sign it.
He did get the support of Benjamin Tillman
for a land-grant
college for African-Americans. In 1896, the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina was created in Orangeburg
, which became the South Carolina State University
.
Miller resigned as state Representative to become the College's first president. In 1910, he opposed the election of Coleman Blease as governor. After victory, Blease asked for and received Miller's resignation.
Miller moved to Charleston and worked on various community causes. From 1923 to 1934, he lived in Philadelphia, but he returned to Charleston. He died on April 8, 1938.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, educator, and lawyer. An African-American from 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...
, he was a prominent leader in the struggle for civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
in the American South during and after Reconstruction. He was a school commissioner, state legislator, U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, lawyer, and college president.
Miller was born in Ferrebeeville, South Carolina, to Richard Miller and Mary Ferrebee. In 1851, he moved with his parents to 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...
, where he attended a school for "free colored" children. When the 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...
ended, he moved to Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Miller graduated from Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1872.
Miller moved to Grahamville, South Carolina and served as school commissioner of Beaufort County
Beaufort County, South Carolina
-National protected areas:*Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge *Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155,215 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per...
in 1872. He studied law at the South Carolina College
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, graduating in 1875, and was admitted to the bar. Miller was elected to 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...
in 1874, serving until 1880. He was elected to the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
in 1880, serving until 1882. He was nominated for lieutenant governor but did not enter the race.
In 1888, Miller ran for U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the 7th Congressional District
South Carolina's 7th congressional district
For other uses see SC 7 The 7th Congressional District of South Carolina was a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in South Carolina. It was first eliminated in 1853 as a result of the 1850 Census. After the 1880 Census, it was again reconstituted for 50 years...
, against Democrat
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...
candidate William Elliot. Elliott won the official vote count, 8,358 to 7,003 for Miller. However, Miller contested the election result, and pressed allegations that many properly registered black voters had not been able to cast their ballots. The House Committee of Elections ruled in his favor, and Miller was seated in the Fifty-First Congress in 1890. He was defeated by Elliot in the election of 1890.
Miller was re-elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1894, and was a delegate to the 1895 South Carolina constitutional convention. Because the new constitution effectively disenfranchised African American citizens, he and five other black delegates refused to sign it.
He did get the support of Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Tillman
Benjamin Ryan Tillman was an American politician who served as the 84th Governor of South Carolina, from 1890 to 1894, and as a United States Senator, from 1895 until his death in office. Tillman's views were a matter of national controversy.Tillman was a member of the Democratic Party...
for a land-grant
Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act
The Morrill Land-Grant Acts are United States statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges, including the Morrill Act of 1862 and the Morrill Act of 1890 -Passage of original bill:...
college for African-Americans. In 1896, the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina was created in Orangeburg
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg, also known as "The Garden City," is the principal city in and the county seat of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city is also the fifth oldest city in the state of South Carolina. The city population was 12,765 at the 2000 census, within a Greater Orangeburg...
, which became the South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University is a historically black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only state funded, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- Colleges, departments,...
.
Miller resigned as state Representative to become the College's first president. In 1910, he opposed the election of Coleman Blease as governor. After victory, Blease asked for and received Miller's resignation.
Miller moved to Charleston and worked on various community causes. From 1923 to 1934, he lived in Philadelphia, but he returned to Charleston. He died on April 8, 1938.