Davis, Benjamin Oliver, Sr.
- Davis, Benjamin Oliver, Sr.
-
▪ United States general
born July 1, 1877, Washington, D.C., U.S.
died November 26, 1970, North Chicago, Ill.
soldier who became the first black general in the U.S. Army.
After serving as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War (1898), Benjamin Davis,
Sr., enlisted as a private in the 9th Cavalry of the U.S. Army. He rose to sergeant major within two years and earned a commission as a second lieutenant in 1901. In the next four decades he served in Liberia and the Philippines and taught military science at the Tuskegee Institute and at Wilberforce University. All of his duty assignments were designed to avoid a situation in which Davis might be put in command of white troops or officers. He rose slowly through the ranks, becoming the first black colonel in the army in 1930. In 1940 he was promoted to brigadier general by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After commanding the 2nd Cavalry Division in 1941, he was assigned to the office of the inspector general of the army. During World War II he headed a special unit charged with safeguarding the status and morale of black soldiers in the army, and he served in the European theatre as a special adviser on race relations. He retired in 1948 after 50 years of service.
Additional Reading
Marvin E. Fletcher,
America's First Black General (1989).
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Davis,Benjamin Oliver — Davis, Benjamin Oliver. 1877 1970. American cavalry officer who was the first African American general in the U.S. Army (1940 1948). His son Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. (born 1912), was the first African American general in the U.S. Air Force… … Universalium
Davis, Benjamin Oliver, Jr. — (1912 2002) Born the son of the U.S. Army’s first black general, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. attended the University of Chicago before he became the first African American in the 20th century to graduate from West Point Military Academy in 1936. He… … Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era
Davis, Benjamin Oliver, Jr. — ▪ 2003 general (ret.), U.S. Air Force (b. Dec. 18, 1912, Washington, D.C. d. July 4, 2002, Washington, D.C.), became the first African American general in the U.S. Air Force and in World War II led the 332nd Fighter Group the Tuskegee… … Universalium
Davis, Benjamin Oliver, Sr. — (1880 1970) The first African American general in the U.S. Army, Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was born in Washington, D.C., where he attended high school and took part time classes at Howard University. In 1898, he joined the 8th Volunteer Infantry… … Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era
Benjamin Oliver Davis — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Benjamin Oliver Davis Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. (18 de diciembre de 1912, Washington D. C. 4 de julio de 2002, Washington D. C.) fue un piloto estadounidense, el primer a … Wikipedia Español
Davis, Benjamin O., Jr. — ▪ United States general in full Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. born December 18, 1912, Washington, D.C., U.S. died July 4, 2002, Washington, D.C. pilot, officer, and administrator who became the first African American general in the U.S. Air… … Universalium
Benjamin Oliver Davis — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie différentes personnes partageant un même nom. Benjamin Oliver Davis peut faire référence à : Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr. (1877 1970), premier général afro américain de l US Army. Benjamin Oliver Davis,… … Wikipédia en Français
Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. — Benjamin Oliver Davis (18 décembre 1912 à Washington, D.C.– 4 juillet 2002 à Washington, D.C. aux États Unis) est un général de l United States Air Force, commandant pendant l … Wikipédia en Français
Davis — /day vis/, n. 1. Alexander Jackson, 1803 92, U.S. architect. 2. Benjamin Oliver, 1877 1970, U.S. military officer: first black Army brigadier general. 3. his son, Benjamin Oliver, Jr., born 1912, U.S. military officer: first black Air Force… … Universalium
benjamin — /ben jeuh meuhn/, n. benzoin1 (def. 2). [1570 80; alter. (by assoc. with the proper name) of benjoin, early form of BENZOIN1] * * * (as used in expressions) Banneker Benjamin Benjamin Judah Philip Benjamin Walter Benjamin Kubelsky Bloch Marc… … Universalium
