- Elijah Cummings was born in 1951 and died in 2019, at age 68.
- After working as a lawyer, he rose through the political ranks in Maryland, first serving as a state delegate for 14 years, and then representing Maryland's 7th Congressional District for the last 23 years.
- Cummings was known for his booming speeches, and holding truth to power. See his life in photos.
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Elijah Cummings came from modest beginnings and died a towering politician.
In elementary school, he was told he was a poor learner and speaker. He went on to become a lawyer, a politician, and one of the fiercest orators in congress.
Over his nearly 40-year political career, Cummings fought for the rights of African Americans, for stricter gun control laws, and for people struggling with addiction.
As chairman of the Oversight and Reform committee, he was in the spotlight this past year when he demanded personal finance and political documents from President Donald Trump.
Here's a look back at Cummings' remarkable life.