1. Preston Smith Brooks was an American slaver, politician, and member of the US House of Representatives from South Carolina, serving from 1853 until his resignation in July 1856 and again from August 1856 until his death.
25 Facts About Preston Brooks
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Preston Brooks is most remembered for his May 22,1856, attack upon abolitionist and Republican Senator Charles Sumner, whom he beat nearly to death; Brooks beat Sumner with a cane on the floor of the United States Senate in retaliation for an anti-slavery speech in which Sumner verbally attacked Brooks's first cousin once removed, South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler.
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Preston Brooks' beating seriously injured Sumner, and he was unable to resume his seat in the Senate for three years, though eventually he recovered and resumed his Senate career.
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Preston Brooks resigned his seat in July 1856 to allow his constituents to express their view on his conduct; they reelected him in the August special election to fill the vacancy created by his resignation.
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Preston Brooks was reelected to a full term in November 1856, but died in January 1857, five weeks before the new term began in March.
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Preston Brooks attended South Carolina College but was expelled just before graduation for threatening local police officers with firearms.
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In 1840, Brooks fought a duel with future Texas Senator Louis T Wigfall and was shot in the hip, forcing him to use a walking cane for the rest of his life.
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Preston Brooks was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1844.
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Preston Brooks was elected to the 33rd United States Congress in 1853 as a Democrat.
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Preston Brooks supported actions by pro-slavery men from Missouri to make Kansas a slave territory.
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Preston Brooks consulted with Representative Laurence M Keitt on dueling etiquette.
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Preston Brooks then decided to "punish" Sumner with a public beating.
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Preston Brooks confronted Sumner, who was seated at his desk, writing letters.
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Sumner was trapped under the heavy desk, but Preston Brooks continued to strike Sumner until Sumner wrenched the desk from the floor in an attempt to escape.
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Preston Brooks continued beating Sumner until the cane broke, then quietly left the chamber with Keitt and Edmundson.
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Preston Brooks required medical attention before leaving the Capitol, because he had hit himself above his right eye with one of his backswings.
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Preston Brooks suffered chronic pain and debilitation for the rest of his life.
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The national reaction to Preston Brooks' attack was sharply divided along regional lines.
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At no time, between the incident and his death, did Preston Brooks apologize for the attack.
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Preston Brooks was widely cheered across the South, where his attack on Sumner was considered legitimate and socially justifiable.
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Preston Brooks claimed that he "meant no disrespect to the Senate of the United States" by attacking Sumner, and that he had not intended to kill Sumner, or else he would have used a different weapon.
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Preston Brooks was tried in a District of Columbia court for the attack.
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Preston Brooks was convicted of assault and was fined $300, though he was not incarcerated.
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Preston Brooks endeavored to tear his own throat open to get breath.
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Preston Brooks was portrayed by Johnny Knoxville in the 2014 "Charleston" episode of the TV series Drunk History.