Robert Heberton Terrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Heberton Terrell
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| Born | November 27, 1857 |
| Died | December 20, 1925 (aged 68) |
| Education | Groton Academy |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 5 (including one adopted and three died in infancy) |
Robert Heberton Terrell (born November 27, 1857 – died December 20, 1925) was an important American lawyer and judge. He was the second African American to serve as a justice of the peace in Washington, D.C.. In 1911, President William Howard Taft chose him to be a judge for the District of Columbia Municipal Court. He was one of four African-American men appointed to high positions by President Taft, who called them his "Black Cabinet." Judge Terrell continued to serve under other presidents, including Democrat Woodrow Wilson.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Terrell was born in Orange, Virginia, on November 27, 1857. His parents were Harrison and Louisa Ann Terrell. In 1865, after the Civil War ended, his family moved to Washington, D.C. Robert's father worked for a famous businessman, George Washington Riggs. Later, he was a personal helper for General Ulysses S. Grant. These connections helped Robert get a good education and a successful career.
Robert went to public schools in Washington, D.C.. He also attended the private Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. He was accepted into Harvard University, a very respected college. In 1884, he graduated from Harvard with high honors.
After college, Robert taught at the M Street School in Washington, D.C. While teaching, he studied law at Howard University School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1889.
Family Life
On October 18, 1891, Robert Terrell married Mary Eliza Church. They had one daughter named Phyllis. They also adopted another daughter, Mary. Sadly, three of their other children died when they were babies.
Robert and Mary met when they were both teachers. They taught at the Preparatory School for Colored Youth. This school is now known as the M Street High School in Washington, D.C.. It was a top high school for African-American students during a time when schools were separated by race.
Early Career as a Lawyer and Educator
After graduating from Harvard, Robert Terrell taught at the M Street High School from 1884 to 1889. He was part of a meeting in 1897 to honor the leader Frederick Douglass. This group created the American Negro Academy, led by Alexander Crummell. This was the first major group of African-American scholars and activists.
Robert Terrell was active in this group until he died in 1925. They worked to fight against racist ideas. They also promoted equal rights for Black people. They published books and articles about African-American history and life.
In 1889, Terrell left the M Street School. He was appointed to a high position in the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1896, he started a law firm with John R. Lynch in Washington, D.C. The firm was called Lynch and Terrell. It closed in 1898 when President William McKinley appointed Lynch to serve in the Spanish–American War.
In 1899, Terrell returned to the M Street High School as its principal. He left again in 1901 for another government job.
Becoming a Judge
In 1901, Robert Terrell, who was a member of the Republican Party, became a justice of the peace in Washington, D.C. He was the second African American to hold this position. The first was Emanuel D. Molyneaux Hewlett.
This was a challenging time for African-American leaders. Even though Republican presidents appointed Black men like Terrell to important jobs, they did not always work to get civil rights for all African Americans. Many Black people in the South faced unfair laws. These laws included disenfranchisement, which stopped them from voting. They also faced Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation.
In 1911, President William Howard Taft appointed Terrell to the Municipal Court of the District of Columbia. Terrell was one of four African Americans appointed to high offices by Taft. They were known as his "Black Cabinet." He was reappointed by Taft, and even by Democratic President Woodrow Wilson.
Teaching Law at Howard University
In 1911, while still a judge, Terrell also became a professor at Howard University's School of Law. In February 1911, he helped start the first Washington D.C. chapter of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity. This was an organization for college-educated professional men. He continued to teach at Howard until his death in 1925.
In 1919, Terrell and other leaders worked to pass a law to end "Jim Crow cars" on public transportation. These were separate train cars for Black people. The law, called the Madden Amendment, did not pass.
Later Years and Legacy
About four years before he died, Robert Terrell had his first stroke. A year later, he had a second stroke, which caused one side of his body to become paralyzed. Even though he also had severe asthma and declining health, Terrell continued to serve as a municipal court judge. In early December 1925, his health worsened. He passed away at his home on December 20, 1925.
Robert Terrell's death was noted in The Crisis magazine. This was the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The magazine described him as a "good fellow" who was "tall and healthy to look at." It also said he was "a lover of men" and enjoyed a good story.
In 1931, a law school was founded and named the Terrell Law School in his honor. It helped African-American students who could not attend other law schools. It offered evening classes from 1931 to 1950.
In 1952, the Robert H. Terrell Junior High School opened in Washington, D.C. This school was named after him. It closed in 2006 and was later torn down. The site is now the R. H. Terrell Recreation Center, which opened in 2009. His wife, Mary Church Terrell, also had a school named after her.
