Randall Lee GIBSON, General, planter, military, lawyer.
Background
GIBSON, Randall Lee was born on September 10, 1832 in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, United States, United States. Son of Tobias and Louisiana (Hart) Gibson. His father was a prominent sugar planter in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
Education
Graduated from Yale, 1853, law department U. Louisiana (now Tulane University), 1855.
Career
Young Gibson graduated first in the class of 1853 from Yale College, studied law at the University of Louisiana in 1855, and traveled in Europe before becoming a planter in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, in 1858. He had three sons by his marriage to Mary Montgomery on January 25, 1868. At the outbreak of the war, Gibson, a Democrat, became aide-de-camp to Governor Thomas O. Moore of Louisiana.
In August 1861, he became colonel of the 13th Louisiana Regiment and soon became known for his discipline. He performed well while commanding a Louisiana brigade at the battle of Shiloh, and he distinguished himself at Perryville in 1862. In 1863, Gibson also participated in the Tennessee battles of Murfreesboro and Missionary Ridge and commanded a brigade at Chickamauga.
On January 11, 1864, he was promoted to brigadier general. He subsequently fought with distinction in the Atlanta and Nashville campaigns of 1864. In the spring of 1865, he held the Spanish Fort at Mobile.
He surrendered and was later paroled in May 1865. After the war, Gibson returned to planting and practiced law in New Orleans. He was elected (but not seated) as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1872.
He was reelected and seated two years later and served continuously until 1882. From 1883 to 1892, he served in the U.S. Senate. In 1879, he helped to establish the Mississippi River Commission.
A regent of the Smithsonian Institution, Gibson was also agent for Paul Tulane in founding Tulane University, of which Gibson was the first president of the board in 1885.
Achievements
Religion
"Peculiar institution" of slavery was not only expedient but also ordained by God and upheld in Holy Scripture.
Politics
Stands for preserving slavery, states' rights, and political liberty for whites. Every individual state is sovereign, even to the point of secession.
Membership
Member United States House of Representatives from Louisiana, 44th-47th congresses, 1875-1883, influential in securing adoption of J.B. Eads plan for constructing jetties at mouth of Mississippi River, 1878, urged creation of Mississippi River Commission, 1879. Member United States Senate from Louisiana, 1883-December 15, 1892. Member board administrators
Howard Memorial Library, New Orleans, board regents Smithsonian Institution.
Connections
Married Mary Montgomery, January 25, 1868, 3 sons.