Representative Preston Brooks was a politician from South Carolina who served in the United States House of Representatives during the mid-19th century. He was a member of the Democratic Party and is best known for his strong support of slavery and states' rights, reflecting the views of many Southern politicians of his time. Brooks gained national attention in 1856 when he physically attacked fellow Congressman Charles Sumner on the floor of the House. This incident, which stemmed from a heated debate over slavery, symbolized the intense sectional conflict leading up to the American Civil War.