Robert Green Ingersoll
"The hands that help are better far than lips that pray."
Robert Green Ingersoll (August 11, 1833 – July 21, 1899) was an American lawyer, a Civil War veteran, a political leader, and an orator of the Golden Age of Free Thought. He was noted for his broad defense of agnosticism.
Early Life
Born in Dresden, New York, his father was a Congregationalist preacher whose radical abolitionist views forced the family to move frequently. This early exposure to the rigid dogmas of religion, contrasted with his father's moral stance against slavery, shaped young Robert's developing worldview.
"I have made up my mind to say my say. I shall do it kindly, distinctly; but I am going to do it."
The Civil War
With the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised the 11th Illinois Cavalry Regiment and took command as Colonel. He fought with distinction at the Battle of Shiloh. He was later captured by Confederate forces but released on parole, a common practice of the time.
The Orator
Ingersoll was the most popular speaker in late 19th-century America. In an era before radio or television, he filled opera houses and lecture halls across the nation. Mark Twain, a close friend and admirer, wrote of him:
"I have heard him speak... and was held spellbound. He was the most beautiful speaker I ever heard."
This biography is a living document. More sections will be added as the project grows.