Benjamin Franklin Wade (1800-1878)

He was born in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, and began his career as a laborer on the Erie Canal before becoming a teacher and then a lawyer, rising to become the U.S. Senator from Ohio in 1851. He opposed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, establishing a reputation as one of the most radical American politicians of his era. He championed women's suffrage, trade union rights, and equality for African-Americans. Although frequently criticized for his radicalism during his time, particularly as he opposed Lincoln's ten-percent plan, he has since been lauded for his lifelong unwavering and persistent commitment to civil rights and racial equality.