James Edward O'Hara

Born: February 26, 1844, New York, New York

Died: September 15, 1905, New Bern, North Carolina

United States Representative, 1883–1887

Republican from North Carolina

• James Edward O’Hara was the only Black Member on the first day of the 48th Congress (1883–1885).
• Born in New York City, his father was an Irish merchant and his mother was a free Black woman from the West Indies. O'Hara grew-up in what is now the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
• In 1862, when he was 18 years old, O’Hara went to Union-occupied eastern North Carolina where he taught primary school to free Black children in New Bern and Goldsboro.
• After the war, he studied law at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and got involved in politics. 
• During his time in office, he devoted most of his efforts to expanding and securing civil rights after the Supreme Court nullified the Civil Rights Act of 1875. 
• Unable to get elected for a third term, he returned to Enfield, N.C., where he published the Enfield Progress newspaper and resumed practicing law.
• He died in New Bern on September 15, 1905 at the age of 61. 

James E. O'Hara

Moorland–Spingarn Research Center, Howard University

Image courtesy of Moorland–Spingarn Research Center, Howard University: James E. O'Hara Representative from North Carolina.