Henry Wilkins Chandler

Henry Wilkins Chandler (September 22, 1852 - 1938) was an American lawyer, politician, and abolitionist. Born as a freeman, he was the first African American graduate from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. He was a member of a class in which two-thirds of them were former slaves, and was personally recruited by the college's founder, Oren Burbank Cheney.

Chandler was born in September 22, 1852 in Bath, Maine.^[1] He received his primary education at local public schools in Bath, and enrolled in Bates College in 1870. He went on to become an editor of the college's student-run newspaper, The Bates Student, and served on the executive committee of the Eurosophian Literary Society.

Upon graduating from Bates in 1874, he went on to attend Howard University, and graduated with a law degree three years later. During 1874 to 1876 he taught at Howard University while pursuing studies there in law.^[2] After completion of his law degree he moved to Florida, passed the Florida Bar, and began to practice law in Ocala, Florida in 1878. He began to edit local newspapers such as The Ocala Republican and The Plain Dealer.^[1]

After his brief stint in newspaper publishing he was elected to the Florida Senate in 1880 from the nineteenth district comprising Marion County, Florida. He held the office for two terms. He also held a number of political positions in Ocala, including clerk and alderman.^[1] He held office the city clerk for Jacksonville. Chandler was chosen to be a state delegate to the Republican National Convention several times.^[3]

On October 2, 1884 he married Annie M. Onley, a teacher in Jacksonville.^[1]

References

1. Simmons, William J., and Henry McNeal Turner. Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. No. 247. GM Rewell & Company, 1887. p257-259
2. [African Americans in South Florida: A Home and a Haven for Reconstruction-era Leaders by Larry E. Rivers and Canter Brown, Jr.
3. "Henry Chandler - 150 Years - Bates College". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-19.