George Washington Fields facts for kids
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George Washington Fields (born April 25, 1854 – died August 19, 1932) was a truly amazing person. He was the first Black student to graduate from Cornell Law School and one of the very first African Americans to graduate from Cornell University. What makes his story even more incredible is that he is believed to be the only person who was formerly enslaved to ever graduate from Cornell. His journey from being enslaved to becoming a successful lawyer is inspiring.
George Washington Fields' Early Life
George Washington Fields was born in Virginia to parents, Washington Fields and Martha Ann Berkley, who were enslaved. He grew up on a large farm called a plantation near Hanover, Virginia.
During the American Civil War, in July 1863, George and his family managed to escape the plantation. They found safety at Fort Monroe. For the next ten years, he worked many different jobs, like gathering oysters, driving a horse-drawn taxi, and serving on steamboats. Even with these jobs, he still found time to go to school. He graduated from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in 1878. After that, he moved north to find full-time work.
Education and Law Career
George worked several jobs, including being a waiter at fancy resorts and a servant for important families. He later became a butler for Alonzo B. Cornell, who was the Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882. George kept learning and began studying law on his own. This was called "reading law" and was a way to learn about the legal system before going to law school.
He first planned to study at Yale Law School. However, Governor Cornell convinced him to attend Cornell University instead. This university was founded by Governor Cornell's father, Ezra Cornell. In 1887, George enrolled in the very first class of Cornell Law School. He graduated in 1890 and wrote a special paper called a thesis about "Trial by Jury."
After finishing law school, George returned to Hampton, Virginia. He started practicing law with his older brother. Even though he lost his eyesight in 1896, he became a very successful lawyer in the area. He had many clients, both white and Black. He was also very active in different community groups.
George Washington Fields passed away in 1932 at the Dixie Hospital in Hampton.
Family and Personal Life
George Washington Fields married Sarah "Sallie" Haws Baker on November 28, 1892. They had two children together. Sadly, their son died when he was a baby. However, their daughter, Inez C. Fields, grew up to be a lawyer too! She became the second Black woman allowed to practice law in Massachusetts. She also worked for her father's law practice in Virginia. They might have been the first Black father-daughter team to practice law together in Virginia.
