Famous Beaufortonians: Thomas E. Miller

In honor of Black History Month, we draw your attention to one of Beaufort District's African American native sons who found prominence on the state and national scene. 

Last update: 28 January 2020

Thomas Ezekiel Miller (1849-1938):

Miller was born to free black parents in Ferrebeeville, S. C., near present-day Ridgeland. As a youth, Miller attended schools for free African-Americans in Charleston although such schools were prohibited by state law at the time. He studied for the bar in Columbia, S. C. after his graduation from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1872. It was in the course of his law studies that Miller’s involvement in the Beaufort County Republican Party began.

His first public office was that of Beaufort school commissioner (1872), and in 1874 he was elected as representative to the state General Assembly. Miller served in the U. S. House (having successfully contested the election of William Elliott) from 1890-1891 upon successfully contesting the election of William Elliott. However his term was plagued by contests from the opposing Democrats. He lost the next election and returned to Beaufort before he served again in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1894 to 1896.

Miller joined with Robert Smalls to block legislation at the state Constitutional Convention of 1895 that would disfranchise black male citizens. They failed. At this same convention, Miller expressed his support for women’s suffrage. More successful was Miller’s efforts to found a state-supported college for African-Americans, the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College in Orangeburg, now known as South Carolina State University. SCSU is the only public, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina. Miller became the college’s first president in 1896 and served until 1911 when he was forced to resign by Governor Coleman Blease.

He died in Charleston, where his epitaph reads, "Not having loved the white man less, but having felt the Negro needed more."

Additional information about Miller: 

Another image of Miller
    
"Miller, Thomas E. (1849-1938)" Online Encyclopedia of Significant People and Places in African American History

"Thomas E. Miller, 19^th Century Politician” in the African American Registry 

“Miller, Thomas Ezekial,” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

"Miller, Thomas Ezekiel," History, Art and Archives: United States House of Representatives website

This post is based substantively on the work of Dennis Adams, BCL's former Information Services Coordinator (now retired) prepared for the Library's pre-2016 website.