Edward Coles (December 15, 1786 – July 7, 1868) manumitted his slaves in 1819, was secretary to James Madison (1810 to 1815), neighbor and anti-slavery associate of Thomas Jefferson and was the second Governor of Illinois, serving from 1822 to 1826. He is credited with leading a political campaign that was successful in preventing the legitimization of slavery in the Illinois constitution. His brothers-in-law were John Rutherfoord, who served as governor of Virginia, and Andrew Stevenson, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and American minister to the United Kingdom.
Read more about Edward Coles: Early Years, Service in The White House (January 1810 To Approx. March 1815), Correspondence With Jefferson Concerning Slavery, The Manumission of Coles’ Slaves, Coles’ Term As Governor and The Referendum On A Constitutional Convention, Coles’ Efforts To Assist Madison in Manumitting Slaves, Later Years, Legacy
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“The shadow of a mighty Negro past flits through the tale of Ethiopia the shadowy and of the Egypt the Sphinx. Throughout history, the powers of single blacks flash here and there like falling stars, and die sometimes before the world has rightly gauged their brightness.”
—W.E.B. (William Edward Burghardt)