Ruffin, George L.

Ruffin, George L. (Lewis) (1834–86) lawyer; born in Richmond, Va. 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 (1876–78), 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.