William Pitt Kellogg

Biography

William Pitt Kellogg fought for the Union before embarking on a political career in Louisiana, where he served as governor and U.S. senator during the difficult years of Reconstruction. A Republican from the North, he defended the rights of freedmen against violent opposition and worked to restore civil government even as the region reeled from war.

After returning to national office he continued to press for equal opportunity and a strong federal presence in the South, leaving a record of perseverance in the face of sharp resistance.