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This is a list of members of the United States Congress who enslaved Black and Indigenous Peoples. Slavery was legal in the United States from its beginning as a nation, having been practiced in North America from early colonial days.

Synopsis

At least 1,700 members of Congress enslaved Black and Indigenous Peoples at some point in their lives,^[1] including 374 senators, at least 1,477 representatives, at least 23 territorial delegates to the U.S. House, at least 6 members of the Congress of the Confederation, and at least 2 members of the Continental Congress.

Slaveowners, whether enslaving Black and Indigenous Peoples in office or previously as adults, represented 37 states in either house of Congress, from 1789 to 1923:

In addition, the following territories and insular areas were represented by contemporary or former slaveowners who were elected as delegates:

Numerous slaveowners, contemporary and former, served in the Continental Congress and the Congress of the Confederation, and slaveowning men constituted at least half of the membership of Congress from 1789 to 1819. The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution formally abolished slavery in 1865, immediately after the end of the American Civil War. During Reconstruction, the number of former slaveowners declined, but then rose following the end of Reconstruction, followed by a gradual decline in the number of former slaveowners.

William Richardson of Alabama was the last of the continuous line of former slaveholders to serve in Congress, having died in office in 1914. The 64th Congress of 1915–1917 was the first full session to not have any contemporary or former slaveholders in its roster. The last slaveholder to ever hold office in Congress was Rebecca Latimer Felton, who was appointed to represent Georgia in the United States Senate for one day during the 67th Congress. In addition to being the first woman to serve in the Senate, she was the only female slaveowner to ever hold office in Congress.

On January 10, 2022, The Washington Post launched the first known database of documented contemporary or former slaveowners who held office in Congress and its preceding legislatures.^[2][1]

Senate

House

Representatives