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He is remembered as a democrat, violent anti-abolition advocate.
Preston Smith Brooks was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina on 4 August, 1819. [1]
He graduated at the South Carolina college in 1839, studied law and was admitted to the bar in May, 1843. [1]
In 25 November,1844, he was elected to the state legislature of South Carolina House of Representatives from Edgefield District where he served until 25 November, 1844. During the Mexican-American War he served as a captain in the Palmetto Regiment of South Carolina volunteers. [1]
He married Martha (Means) Brooks (1826-1901) on January 2, 1845 in Edgefield, South Carolina.[2]
In the 1850 U.S. Census, P.S Brooks is head of household in The District, Edgefield, South Carolina. He is a lawyer with birth year about 1819. His wife is Martha Brooks, age 23, with children Mary C. Brooks age 4, Sallie Brooks age 2, and Caroline Brooks age 1. This household includes Harvey Brooks age 75 and Jane Boles age 50. [3]
He was elected a representative from South Carolina to Congress as a state-rights democrat in 1853, and was re-elected twice. [1]
On May 22, 1856, Brooks attacked and seriously injured abolitionist and Republican Senator Charles Sumner, beating him with a cane on the floor of the United States Senate, reacting to Sumner's anti-slavery speech in which Brooks's second cousin, South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, was mentioned. South Carolinians, with other Southerners, reacted with "widespread adoration", and the city of Brooksville, Florida as well as Brooks County, Georgia renamed the areas in his honor.[4] Friends of Mr. Brooks among them Mr. Barksdale of Mississippi, accompanied him, and with drawn revolvers, prevented any interference. [1]
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th district, March 4, 1853 – July 15, 1856 and August 1, 1856 – January 27, 1857.
He received numerous costly canes and other testimonials from different parts of the South. [1]
He died 27 January, 1857, in Washington, D.C. [1] He died before the outbreak of the hostiles of the Civil War.
Slaves of Preston Smith Brooks - Slavery Documentation Page
On several of the slave sales records he is listed as Dr.[6]
See also:
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Categories: Edgefield County, South Carolina, Slave Owners | Edgefield Village Cemetery, Edgefield, South Carolina | United States of America, Mexican-American War | South Carolina, Notables | Namesakes US Counties | US Senators from South Carolina | Edgefield County, South Carolina | Democratic Political Party | Confederate States Politicians | Lawyers | 1850 US Census, Edgefield County, South Carolina | Notables
See: Slaves of Preston Smith Brooks - Slavery Documentation Page
Preston's 2nd, my 6th.
This is confirmed through my ancestry Dna.
edited by James Brooks