Edmund Ruffin was an American writer, editor, and planter, born on January 5, 1794, in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He is best known for his role in the American Civil War and his advocacy for the secession of the Southern states. Ruffin was a proponent of states' rights and the institution of slavery, and his work reflected these beliefs. He played a significant part in the events leading up to the war and was a leader in the secession movement.