Josiah T. Walls, the first Black man elected to the U.S. Congress from Florida, was born on this day in 1842. Born into slavery in Virginia, Walls later served in the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war, he settled in Florida, where he became a teacher, farmer, and politician. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1870 during the Reconstruction Era, serving three terms. Walls was a strong advocate for civil rights and education for African Americans.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
