Augustus Baldwin Longstreet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet
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| Born | September 22, 1790 Augusta, Georgia |
| Died | July 9, 1870 (aged 79) Oxford, Mississippi |
| Occupation | Lawyer, minister, educator, humorist |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Yale University (AB) Litchfield Law School |
| Period | 1833 - 1864 |
| Genre | Southern humor |
| Notable works | Georgia Scenes |
| Children | Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (son-in-law) Lara Parker (third-great granddaughter) |
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet (born September 22, 1790 – died July 9, 1870) was an American lawyer, minister, and educator. He was also a humorist, famous for his book Georgia Scenes. He led several universities in the Southern United States. These included the University of Mississippi and Emory College. He was the uncle of a well-known Confederate General, James Longstreet.
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Early Life and Career
Augustus Longstreet was born in Augusta, Georgia. His father, William Longstreet, was an inventor. Augustus went to Yale University and finished his studies in 1813. He then studied law in Litchfield, Connecticut. Soon after, he became a lawyer in Richmond County, Georgia.
He later moved to Greensboro, Georgia. There, he became a very successful lawyer. In 1821, he represented Greene County in the state government. The next year, he became a judge in the Ocmulgee district. After a few years as a judge, he decided to return to being a lawyer in Augusta.
Becoming a Minister and Educator
Longstreet also worked as an editor for a newspaper. He started the Sentinel, which later joined with the Chronicle in 1838. In 1838, he became a Methodist minister. During this time, his town faced a serious illness called yellow fever. He bravely stayed to help the sick and dying.
In 1839, he became the president of Emory College. He served there for nine years. After that, he became president of Centenary College in Louisiana. Later, he became president of the University of Mississippi. He stayed there for six years.
In 1857, he became president of South Carolina College. Just before the American Civil War, he returned to his old job as president of the University of Mississippi.
Views and Writings
Longstreet was a strong supporter of states' rights. This idea meant that individual states should have more power than the national government. He often gave speeches throughout his life. People who knew him said he was always ready to speak.
During his time as a minister, Longstreet supported the idea of states leaving the Union. He also defended slavery. He believed that freeing enslaved people would harm Southern society. He thought the South had suffered unfairly from the North. He told students that leaving the Union would not cause a war. But if it did, he believed the South would win.
Longstreet started writing for newspapers at a young age. He wrote for many magazines, including The Methodist Quarterly and Southern Literary Messenger. His most famous work is his book, Georgia Scenes (1835). This book was first published in newspapers. It showed funny and realistic stories about life in the South.
Family and Legacy
Augustus Longstreet was a mentor to his nephew, James Longstreet. He was also a long-time friend of John C. Calhoun. Augustus Longstreet died in Oxford, Mississippi. He is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery.
Longstreet's daughter, Virginia, married Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar in 1847. Lamar later became a Supreme Court judge. They were married at Emory College, where Augustus was president. The couple later moved with him to Mississippi. The American actress Lara Parker is his third-great-granddaughter.
Longstreet Theater at the University of South Carolina is named after him. In 2021, a university group suggested removing his name from the building.
