James A. Fields

James Apostle Fields (August, 1844 – November 23, 1903)[1] was a prominent lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1879 and 1889.[2] He was born in slavery in Hanover Fields in 1844. He escaped slavery in the early 1864, and was among the first students at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute.[1] He first joined the House of Delegates for the 1879–80 term, and then received a law degree from Howard University in 1882.[3] He was elected again to the House of Delegates for 1889–90, and did not seek reelection. He taught students for 14 years, becoming a school superintendent in 1890. He also farmed and maintained a law practice. In 1903, he died of Bright's Disease.

The James A. Fields House in Newport News, Virginia is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

References
  1. Brown, DeNeen L.; Brown, DeNeen L. (2017-08-14). "The other James A. Fields: He rose from slavery to success in segregated Virginia". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  2. "Fields, James A. (1844–1903)". www.encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  3. "James A. Fields former slave, teacher and lawyer | African American Registry". www.aaregistry.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
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