Alonzo J. Ransier

Who was Alonzo J. Ransier?

Alonzo Jacob Ransier was an African-American politician in South Carolina. He was the state's first black Lieutenant Governor and later was a Republican United States Congressman from 1873 until 1875.

He was born free in Charleston, South Carolina. He worked as a shipping clerk until he was appointed state registrar of elections in 1865. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1868 to 1869 and also was a member of the state constitutional convention during that time. He was elected the 54th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 1870. He was elected to the Forty-third United States Congress from the 2nd Congressional District.

In Congress he fought for a civil rights bill. He also backed high tariffs and opposed a federal salary increase. He campaigned for President Ulysses S. Grant and advocated a six-year presidential term.

After leaving Congress in 1875 he worked as a collector for the Internal Revenue Service.