James E. O'Hara

Who was James E. O'Hara?

James Edward O'Hara was an American politician and attorney who was the second African American to be elected to Congress from North Carolina. Born in New York City, he went South after the American Civil War with religious missionaries from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, an independent black denomination, to help the freedmen set up independent lives and new congregations. O'Hara decided to stay there and became active in politics, being elected to local and state offices.

In 1871 he was the first man from North Carolina to get a law degree from Howard University; he passed the bar and started his practice. In 1882, O'Hara was elected as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, serving two terms, from 1883 to 1887. After being defeated in the 1886 election, he retired from politics when his term ended, and returned to his law practice.