Trivia 04-20-2020

[Trivia Master]

I was a prominent, European-trained, medical doctor and served as an Army surgeon during the war. I continued my practice after the war, taught at a medical school and was a Trustee of a major university. I also dabbled in politics and was elected to the U. S. Senate, but only served a short time. Some date the end of the Civil War to the day I was sworn in as a U. S. Senator.
Who am I?
Why was the date I was sworn in significant?

credit: @WJC

 

[hughes]

Homer Miller
14th Amendment was ratified on July 28th 1868 (the day he was elected)

 

[stuart1861]

- Homer Virgil Milton Miller
- He was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate on July 28, 1868; on this day the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified.

 

[Wallyfish]

Homer Virgil Milton Miller - Elected July 28, 1868

July 28, 1868, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. The amendment grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" which included former slaves who had just been freed after the Civil War.

Medical trained in Paris. Confederate surgeon. University trustee. Short term senator.


Source

 

[captaindrew]

Homer Virgil Milton Miller of Georgia was elected Senator on July 28, 1868, the day the 14th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000728

 

[FarawayFriend]

1) You are Homer Virgil Milton Miller, Senator from Georgia

2) You were sworn in Feb.24, 1871...

One internet source says that absolutely nothing significant happened on that date, but then I found this:

So my answer to part 2 of the question is, that for the first time in more than a decade the South was fully represented in Congress.

Source

More sources on Miller:

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Member details

bioguideretro.congress.gov

Homer Virgil Milton Miller (1814-1896) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Is this your ancestor? Compare DNA and explore genealogy for Homer V. M. Miller born 1814 Pendleton, South Carolina, USA died 1896 Atlanta, Georgia, USA including ancestors + children + 1 photos + DNA connections + more in the free family tree community.

www.wikitree.com

 

[Wallyfish]

Changing my answer. Question is asking for sworn in date, not elected date.

Miller was sworn in February 24,1871 with the seating of the Georgia senators, the south is fully represented in congress for the first time in more than a decade.

Feb 24 1871

 

[Ole Miss]

1) Homer Virgil Milton Miller
2) On July 28, 1868, the 14th Amendent was ratified
Regards
David

 

[streetwiseprof]

Homer V. M. Miller (GA).

February 24, 1871 (when Miller was sworn in) was unexceptional. February 24, 1868 was the date of Andrew Johnson's impeachment by the House.

 

[Lewis214]

Homer V M Miller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_V._M._Miller

 

[Michigander]

1. Homer Virgil Milton Miller
2. Was elected to the senate from Georgia on July 28, 1868. That is an important date because the 14th Amendment was ratified.
Source 1
Source 2

 

[General Casey]

Homer V.M. Miller
The date (February 24, 1871) is significant because it is the first time in more than a decade the South was fully represented in Congress

 

[luinrina]

You are Homer Virgil Milton Miller (April 29, 1814 – May 31, 1896).

As for the second part, I hope that's what you're looking for: Miller was sworn in on February 24, 1871 as the first Senator from Georgia after Georgia, as the last of the former Confederate states, was readmitted into the Union. Though, Miller's tenure was only 7 days - the second shortest in American history (as of 2017).

Sources: Wikipedia (Miller, 41st United States Congress, United States Senators from Georgia, Georgia during Reconstruction)

 

[warbird43]

Who am I ? Homer Virgil Milton Miller, physician and politician from Georgia. Miller was elected as a Democrat to the US Senate July 28, 1868 but did not qualify (and consequently not seated) until February 24, 1871. He would only serve in the Senate for 7 days when his term ended on March 3, 1871.

Why was the date I was sworn in significant ? With the seating of the senators from Georgia, February 24, 1871 the South, for the first time in more than a decade, is fully represented in Congress.

 

[ErnieMac]

Who am I? Homer V. M. Miller.
Why was the date I was sworn in significant? The South had full representation in Congress for the first time since secession.

Homer V. M. Miller - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

https://li.proquest.com/elhpdf/histcontext/42nd_Congress.pdf

 

[Mint Julep]

Homer V. M. Miller

 

[Rick Richter]

I was a prominent, European-trained, medical doctor and served as an Army surgeon during the war. I continued my practice after the war, taught at a medical school and was a Trustee of a major university. I also dabbled in politics and was elected to the U. S. Senate, but only served a short time. Some date the end of the Civil War to the day I was sworn in as a U. S. Senator.
Who am I?
Why was the date I was sworn in significant?

credit: @WJC

Homer V.M. Miller

His swearing in completed Georgia's representation in the Senate, the last state to be re-admitted to the Union.

 

[Stone in the wall]

You stumped me again WJC

 

[DBF]

You are Homer Virgil Milton Miller (1814-1896)

He was elected (by state legislators) on July 28, 1868 when Georgia had their congressional representation restored after they voted to ratify the 14th amendment (equal protection under the law, rights of citizens). Secretary of State Seward issued the official proclamation on the same date Miller was elected.

* * *

Although the question asking what was the significance to the "date he was sworn-in" is somewhat complicated. He wasn't seated until February 24, 1871. Senators questioned his ability to serve as they questioned his qualifications based upon a conflict with the "test oath" that had been passed in July 1862 when Congress passed a much tougher "Ironclad Test Oath" for civil servants requiring not only a pledge of future loyalty, but also an "affirmation of past fidelity". Many felt that he was disqualified due to his service in the Confederate Army. There are pages and pages of the debate that followed, however, on February 24, 1871, according to Congressional Records: "The Vice-President stated that the message of the United States just received, announced that he had approved and signed the "joint-resolution" prescribing the oath of office to be taken by H.V.M. Miller, senator-elect from the state of Georgia whose credentials were presented on the 11th day of January, 1869, to come forward and take the oath of office". He did and served the remainder of his term all of seven days.

As my 2nd source concludes:

"For several years after the Civil War, Radical Republicans used the 1862 Test Oath to keep Southern Democrats from returning to Congress. In 1868, as the Radicals' power began to wane, Congress passed a separate oath for Southern members-elect, but ironically required northerners to continue swearing they had "never voluntarily borne arms against the United States." Finally, in 1884, Congress repealed the Test Oath, leaving the repatriated Southerners' oath as the one we know today"

But I believe the answer the question is seeking is the 14th Amendment as that matches the statement: "some date the end of the Civil War to the day" and not the fact that Miller's election opened up a debate that would take 18 years to resolve.

1. Link to Congressional Record
2. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Senates_First_Act_-_The_Oath_Act.htm

 

[hoosier]

There are a lot of different dates that some consider to mark the end of the Civil War. There was Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Johnston's surrender at Bennett Place, the surrender of Kirby Smith, the Battle of Palmito Ranch, the surrender of Stand Watie, the surrender of the CSS Shenandoah, and the date when Andrew Johnson finally declared the Civil War to be officially over.

I can't find any U. S. senator who was sworn in on any of those dates, so I pass on this question.