Charles Sumner

Date of Birth: January 6, 1811

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: March 11, 1874

Biography

Charles Sumner was a prominent American politician and a leading advocate for the abolition of slavery. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Sumner was an influential U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and a powerful orator. He is best known for his deep commitment to civil rights and his role in the anti-slavery movement before and during the American Civil War. Sumner’s career was notably marked by his staunch opposition to the expansion of slavery and his efforts to secure equal rights for freedmen during the Reconstruction era. His most famous moment in the Senate came when he was brutally attacked by Representative Preston Brooks on the Senate floor in 1856, an event that underscored the intense sectional conflicts of the time. Despite the physical trauma from the attack, Sumner continued to be a critical voice for justice and equality until his death.

5 Interesting Facts about Charles Sumner

1. Charles Sumner was a graduate of Harvard Law School and became an accomplished lawyer and academic before entering politics.

2. He was a founding member of the Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories.

3. Sumner was known for his powerful speeches, including his famous “Crime Against Kansas” speech, which led to his violent assault by Preston Brooks.

4. He played a significant role in the drafting and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1875, which aimed to guarantee equal rights to African Americans.

5. Sumner was a lifelong bachelor and never married, dedicating his life to his political and social causes.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Charles Sumner

1. “The true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the true greatness of the individual.”

2. “From the beginning of our history the country has been afflicted with compromise. It is by compromise that human rights have been abandoned.”

3. “Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud.”

4. “No true and permanent fame can be founded except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.”

5. “The age of chivalry has gone; the age of humanity has come.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a 19th-century politician, Charles Sumner did not amass a significant personal fortune. His net worth was modest, mainly derived from his salary as a U.S. Senator.