Mifflin Wistar Gibbs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
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Gibbs in 1902
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| Born | April 17, 1823 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
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| Died | July 11, 1915 (aged 92) |
| Resting place | Oakland-Fraternal Cemetery |
| Occupation | Businessman, lawyer, judge, diplomat, banker, real estate |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Ann Alexander Gibbs |
| Children | Donald Francis Gibbs (1860-1906) Ida Alexander Gibbs (1862-1957) |
| Relatives | Brother, Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs |
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs (born April 17, 1823 – died July 11, 1915) was an important American-Canadian leader. He was a successful businessman, a lawyer, and a judge. He also worked to protect the rights of Black people.
Gibbs made history on November 16, 1866. He became the first Black person elected to public office in British Columbia, Canada. He won a seat on the Victoria City Council.
Contents
Early Life and Activism
Mifflin Gibbs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father was a Methodist minister. Mifflin was the second of four children. His older brother was Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs.
As a young man, Gibbs joined the abolitionist movement. This movement worked to end slavery. He even worked for Frederick Douglass, a famous abolitionist leader. Gibbs was also part of a literary group in Philadelphia. This group included other important Black leaders. Philadelphia was a good place for free Black people to live and work. Slavery had ended there after the American Revolutionary War.
Moving West to California
In the late 1850s, Gibbs moved to California. He joined many others during the California Gold Rush. He first tried to work as a carpenter, which was his trade. However, he faced unfair treatment because of his race.
So, Gibbs started new businesses. He partnered with others to sell clothes and import shoes. He also helped publish newspapers for African Americans. These papers included the Alta California and the Mirror of the Times. He worked hard to fight against unfair laws, like poll taxes.
Leaving California for Canada
In 1858, California passed new laws that were unfair to Black people. These laws made it hard for them to own property. They also could not speak against a white person in court. Black people were even required to wear special badges.
Gibbs and other Black leaders were very upset. They traveled to British Columbia, Canada. They met with Governor Sir James Douglas. The governor promised them that Black people would be treated fairly there.
Life and Work in Canada
After this meeting, Gibbs led many African Americans to British Columbia. Between 600 and 800 people, often with their families, moved from California. Many settled on Vancouver Island. They became a big part of the new community there.
In 1861, Gibbs became a British citizen. Fifty-two other American Black people also became citizens. Gibbs worked as a merchant and became involved in politics. He lived in Canada for about ten years.
Becoming a City Councillor
In 1862, Gibbs ran for a seat on the Victoria City Council. He almost won, missing by only four votes. But in 1867, he was elected to the Victoria City Council. He served on the council until 1869. This made him the first Black person elected to public office in British Columbia.
Joining the Confederation Movement
In 1868, Gibbs played a role in Canada's history. He was a delegate from Salt Spring Island at the Yale Convention. This meeting was very important. It helped British Columbia decide to join Canada in the confederation.
Returning to the United States
After about ten years in Canada, Gibbs moved back to the United States. He settled in Little Rock, Arkansas. He studied law and passed the bar exam in 1870. This meant he could become an attorney.
Gibbs became active in the Republican Party. He was appointed to several important government jobs. In 1873, he was elected as a city judge. This made him the first Black judge elected in the United States.
Later Career and Achievements
Gibbs continued to be a leader. In 1876, he was chosen to lead the National Convention of Colored Men. He was also appointed to a land office job in Little Rock. He attended several Republican National Conventions.
Gibbs became very successful. He earned a lot of money from his law practice and real estate. In 1897, he was appointed as the American consul to Madagascar. A consul is a government official who represents their country in another country. He mentored William Henry Hunt, who later became the first African American to have a long career as a diplomat.
Gibbs returned to the United States in 1901. He became the president of a bank in Little Rock. Two schools for African-American students in Arkansas were named after him: M. W. Gibbs High School and Gibbs Elementary School.
Family Life
Mifflin Gibbs was married to Maria Ann Alexander. They had two daughters while living in British Columbia. The family moved to Oberlin, Ohio, in 1869. Both daughters later went to college there.
Their daughter, Ida Alexander Gibbs (1862–1957), earned degrees in English. Their other daughter, Harriet Gibbs Marshall (1868-1941), studied music. She became a talented concert pianist and educator.
In 1902, Gibbs bought a property in Washington, D.C. His daughter, Harriet, used this property to run the Washington Conservatory of Music. It was one of the most successful businesses owned by a woman at that time.
Mifflin Gibbs passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 11, 1915, at the age of 92. He is buried at Oakland-Fraternal Cemetery.
Legacy and Recognition
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs left a lasting impact. In 2016, the City of Victoria honored him. They declared November 19 as 'Mifflin Wistar Gibbs Day'. This day celebrates him being the first Black person elected to public office in British Columbia.
In 2019, a special plaque was placed in his honor at Irving Park in Victoria. Also, a study room in the city's public library was named the 'Mifflin Wistar Gibbs Study Room'.
See also
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Arkansas
