Prince Albert Ewing
Prince Albert Ewing | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1849 |
| Died | 1921 |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Being one of the first African-American lawyer of Tennessee |
Prince Albert Ervin Ewing (1849–1921) was one of Tennessee's first Black lawyers, a pioneering African American attorney and civil rights advocate in Tennessee.[citation needed] Born into slavery, Ewing became one of the first Black lawyers in the state during a time of extreme racial segregation. His twin brother, Taylor G. Ewing, was also an influential civil rights lawyer.[1]
Life
[edit]Prince Albert Ewing was born 28 Feb 1849 in Davidson County, Tennessee. His mother was Margaret (Ewing) Thompson.[citation needed] According to descendants, he was born enslaved at the Travellers Rest plantation in Nashville which was owned by John W Overton's family.[2] Ewing studied law under the influential lawyer/politician Edward Baxter. Born into slavery, Ewing had eventually become a Fisk graduate. Many local historians believe that when he obtained a “regular” attorney’s license on September 15, 1871, he was likely the first African American to do so.[3] Prince married Isabella Watson in 1872.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]Ewing and his brother played a crucial role in advocating for African American rights, including efforts to challenge discriminatory laws and practices. Their law office in Nashville became a focal point for African American legal action.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Ewing, David. "On Juneteenth, Nashville and our nation honor the formerly enslaved | Opinion". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "Article clipped from The Buffalo News". The Buffalo News. 2020-08-23. p. 52. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ C. Rutherford, David (2022-08-27). "Prince Albert Ewing". Nashville Historical Newsletter. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "David Ewing's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2024-12-03.