John W. E. Thomas
John W. E. Thomas | |
|---|---|
Sketch of Thomas in The Appeal (1899) | |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 2nd district | |
| In office 1877–1879 | |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 3rd district | |
| In office 1883–1886 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 1, 1847 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | December 18, 1899 (aged 52) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Maria Reynolds
(m. 1864; died 1878)Justine Latcher
(m. 1880; died 1883)Crittie E.O. Marshall
(m. 1887) |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Grocer; real estate developer |
| Profession | Lawyer; teacher |
John William Edinburgh Thomas (May 1, 1847 – December 18, 1899) was an American businessman, educator, and Illinois politician. Born into slavery in Alabama, he moved to Chicago after the Civil War, where he became a prominent community leader. In 1876 he became the first African American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Thomas was instrumental in passage of Illinois' first anti-discrimination in public accommodations law, which he introduced in 1885.