Robert John Palmer (born January 18, 1849 – May 12, 1928) was a tailor and politician born into slavery in South Carolina.[1]
Palmer was a state representative from 1876 to 1878 and had a tailor shop opposite the post office on Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina.[2][3]
He had a daughter, Rosina C. Palmer, with Julia Simons in Columbia in the 1870s.[4] He subsequently married Adelaide Perry and had eight children.[2] After Adelaide died he married Leila P. Bruce January 12, 1913.[4]
He is the great-great-grandfather of stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle.[5]
He is buried in Randolph Cemetery along with eight other Reconstruction Era legislators.[6]
