Elijah Cummings was an American politician and civil rights advocate who served in the United States House of Representatives for Maryland’s 7th congressional district from 1996 until his death in 2019.
He was born on January 18, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland, to former sharecroppers from South Carolina.
Cummings graduated from Howard University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and went on to law school at the University of Maryland.
He practiced law and served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 14 years before being elected to the Federal House of Representatives in 1996.
Cummings was a senior member of the majority party chosen for skill in presiding and was the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore.
He was a member of several boards and commissions, both in and out of Baltimore, including the SEED Schools of Maryland Board of Directors and the University of Maryland Law School Board of Advisors.
Cummings was also an honorary member of the Baltimore Zoo Board of Trustees.
He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and a Prince Hall Mason.
Cummings was a powerful Democrat in Congress and a central figure in the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump.
He was known for his advocacy for the working class in his Black-majority district.
Elijah Cummings cause of death
Cummings died on October 17, 2019, at the age of 68.
His office confirmed that he died of “complications concerning longstanding health challenges,” but no other details were given.
Cummings was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called thymic carcinoma in 1994 while serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
It was revealed in November 2019 that Cummings had lived with the cancer for 25 years, though it was not stated as the cause of death.
Elijah Cummings career
Cummings served in the United States House of Representatives for Maryland’s 7th congressional district from 1996 until his death in 2019 at the age of 68.
He graduated from Howard University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Cummings then went to law school at the University of Maryland.
He practiced law and served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 14 years before being elected to the Federal House of Representatives in 1996.
Cummings was the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore, a senior member of the majority party chosen for skill in presiding.
He served on several boards and commissions, both in and out of Baltimore, including the SEED Schools of Maryland Board of Directors and the University of Maryland Law School Board of Advisors.
Cummings was an honorary member of the Baltimore Zoo Board of Trustees.
He was a key figure in the Trump impeachment inquiry and a longtime advocate for Baltimore city.
Cummings was known for his advocacy for the working class in his Black-majority district.
Additionally, he was an advocate who fought tirelessly for the rights of all Americans, and his legacy lives on.
Elijah Cummings’ background before entering politics
Before entering politics, Cummings had a background in law and advocacy.
He graduated from Howard University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and then went to law school at the University of Maryland.
Cummings practiced law and served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 14 years before being elected to the Federal House of Representatives in 1996.
He was the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore, a senior member of the majority party chosen for skill in presiding.
Cummings was an advocate who fought tirelessly for the rights of all Americans, and his legacy lives on.
