Answer to September 4th TBT (Trivia Brainstorming Thursday)

A: Edmund Ruffin and he is famous for having fired the first and last shot of the civil war.

Edmund Ruffin (1794-1865) was a successful plantation owner and Virginia Senator from 1823-1827. He was labeled a "Fire Eater", those who were passionate about Southern Independence and Secession from the United States. The reality of him firing the first shot is probably more urban legend than fact but it is a commonly held belief. The story goes that he was given the honor of the first shot at Fort Sumter, South Carolina where the confederate troops were in position to take it back from the Union occupation. The Union surrendered the next day. According again to urban legend he also fired the last shot of the Civil War committing suicide in his disappointment. While this is partially true, confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union troops on April 9, 1865 and Edmund Ruffin did not commit suicide until June 17, 1865, more in part due to his failing health.