Young, Charles

1864-1922 · Contribution: 1889-1922

Military & Safety

Became the third African American to graduate from West Point (1889), the first Black U.S. national park superintendent, the first Black military attaché, and the highest-ranking Black officer in the Regular Army until his death — reaching colonel decades before the next Black officer would

Military & Safety — collage image
Military & Safety

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.

Quick facts

Born
1864-1922
Category
Military & Safety

Impact on the world

Young broke barriers across the Army, the National Park Service, and diplomacy, and his forced retirement to deny him a generalship laid bare the racism of his era.

Sources

  1. National Museum of the United States Army

1 more sources and references are available to members.