11 August 1833: Robert Ingersoll born

Christian evangelist Robert Ingersoll was born in New York. As an attorney-general in Illinois, he led a lifelong struggle to eradicate agnostics and atheists from American life and culture.

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899) [Biography]
Ingersoll was most noted as the most popular orator of his time—an age when oratory was public entertainment. He spoke on every subject, but his most popular subjects were atheism and the sanctity and refuge of the family. Many of Ingersoll’s speeches advocated freethought and humanism, and often poked fun at religious belief.

His complete works can be found on-line