biography
| name: |
Ruffin, George L(ewis)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1834–86)
|
| biography:
| Lawyer, born in Richmond, Virginia, USA. The son of free African-Americans, he and his wife, Josephine St Pierre Ruffin (1842–1924), fled to England after the Dred Scott decision (1857), but soon returned to Boston. While making his living as a barber, he spoke out on matters concerning African-Americans. He read law in Boston and became the first black to graduate from Harvard Law School (1869). While maintaining a thriving practice in Boston, he served in the Massachusetts legislature (1869–71) and Boston City Council (1876–8), and was named a municipal judge (1883). An active Baptist and able speaker, he attended national conventions of African-Americans and was a close friend of many prominent people of his day, including Frederick Douglass. His wife was a partner in his many efforts to improve the lot of fellow African-Americans. |
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