On this day, Pinckney Benton Stewart (P.B.S.) Pinchback became the first African American to serve as governor of a U.S. state—Louisiana. He assumed office after the impeachment of Governor Henry C. Warmoth and served as acting governor from December 9, 1872, to January 13, 1873.
Pinchback, a former Union officer and politician during Reconstruction, broke racial barriers in American politics and laid the groundwork for future Black leadership at the state and national levels.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
