Monday, December 11, 2006

Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback, Governor 1872


P. B. S. Pinchback was the first African-American to become governor of a U.S. state. Pinchback, a Republican, served as the governor of Louisiana from December 9, 1872, to January 13, 1873. He was sworn in today, 1872

Not a very long term, 27 days, but all things considered, a first is a first. An immutable rule of marketing is ‘it’s better to be first than to be best’.

He was became the first elected African-American lieutenant governor at the death of Oscar Dunn. Upon the impeachment and removal from office of his predecessor, Republican governor Henry Clay Warmoth, for political corruption and for allegedly "stealing" the governor's office from the Democrat John McEnery, Pinchback was promoted to governor.

He was elected to both the House and Senate, but his elections were contested, and his white Democratic opponents were sworn in instead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.B.S._Pinchback
http://africanamericans.com/PBSPinchback.htm
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9060057/Pinckney-Benton-Stewart-Pinchback

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