Flipper, Henry Ossian

1856-1940 · Contribution: 1873-1882

Military & Safety

Became, in 1877, the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Army's first Black commissioned officer

Military & Safety: collage image
Military & Safety

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Quick facts

Born
1856-1940
Category
Military & Safety

Impact on the world

Flipper broke the color line at West Point and served with distinction as a Buffalo Soldier officer and engineer, even as racism ultimately drove him from the Army.

An alternative history

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Sources

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