John Hanks Alexander
Encyclopedia
John Hanks Alexander was the first African American
officer in the United States armed forces
to hold a regular command position and the second African American graduate of the United States Military Academy
.
to former slaves James Milo Alexander and Fannie Miller Alexander. His father was a barber
in Helena and acquired property there. All of the Alexander children graduated from high school and three attended Oberlin College
in Ohio
.
Alexander graduated number one in his high school class in Helena and soon moved to Carrollton, Mississippi
to take a position as a teacher. In late 1880 he visited his uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio
and ended up remaining in that city. The next year, he enrolled at Oberlin College and attended that institution until passing the entrance examination for West Point in 1883. Alexander was sponsored by Democratic
U.S. Rep.
George W. Geddes
of Ohio.
while at the academy
. He graduated in the class of 1887 ranking 32nd in a class of 64.
Alexander was assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Robinson, Nebraska which was an all-black regiment commanded by white officers and nicknamed Buffalo soldiers. Alexander became the only black officer in an actual command position. In 1888, he was transferred to Fort Washakie, Wyoming
where he engaged in the normal activities of an officer with a western frontier posting.
In 1894, Alexander was sent to Wilberforce University
, an all-black institution, as a professor
of military science
and tactics
. Shortly after arriving Alexander died unexpectedly of a ruptured aorta
on 26 March 1894. John Hanks Alexander is buried in Xenia, Ohio
.
was named Camp Alexander in honor of John Alexander.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
officer in the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
to hold a regular command position and the second African American graduate of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
.
Early life
John Hanks Alexander was born on 6 January 1864 at Helena, ArkansasHelena, Arkansas
Helena is the eastern portion of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, this portion of the city population was 6,323. Helena was the county seat of Phillips County until January 1, 2006, when it merged its government and city limits with...
to former slaves James Milo Alexander and Fannie Miller Alexander. His father was a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
in Helena and acquired property there. All of the Alexander children graduated from high school and three attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Alexander graduated number one in his high school class in Helena and soon moved to Carrollton, Mississippi
Carrollton, Mississippi
Carrollton is a town in Carroll County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat of Carroll County. The population was 408 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area-Geography:...
to take a position as a teacher. In late 1880 he visited his uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and ended up remaining in that city. The next year, he enrolled at Oberlin College and attended that institution until passing the entrance examination for West Point in 1883. Alexander was sponsored by Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
U.S. Rep.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
George W. Geddes
George W. Geddes
George Washington Geddes was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Geddes attended the common schools.He studied law under Columbus Delano.He was admitted to the bar in July 1845 and practiced....
of Ohio.
Military career
During his term at West Point, Alexander was generally accepted by the other cadets and was not subjected to as much intolerance as previous cadets. Alexander was known as an excellent student, especially in mathematics and languages and was a skilled boxerBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
while at the academy
Academy
An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...
. He graduated in the class of 1887 ranking 32nd in a class of 64.
Alexander was assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Robinson, Nebraska which was an all-black regiment commanded by white officers and nicknamed Buffalo soldiers. Alexander became the only black officer in an actual command position. In 1888, he was transferred to Fort Washakie, Wyoming
Fort Washakie, Wyoming
Fort Washakie is a census-designated place in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States, within the Wind River Indian Reservation and along U.S. Route 287...
where he engaged in the normal activities of an officer with a western frontier posting.
In 1894, Alexander was sent to Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
, an all-black institution, as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of military science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
and tactics
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
. Shortly after arriving Alexander died unexpectedly of a ruptured aorta
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
on 26 March 1894. John Hanks Alexander is buried in Xenia, Ohio
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Legacy
A military installation at Newport News, VirginiaNewport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
was named Camp Alexander in honor of John Alexander.