Thomasville in Thomas County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Black Graduate of West Point

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, August 5, 2014

1. First Black Graduate of West Point Marker

Inscription. Henry Ossian Flipper was born a slave in Thomasville on March 21, 1836. On June 14, 1877, he became the first black man to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. N.Y. He served with distinction during the Indian Wars in Texas and the Indian Territory.

In 1882 he was court martialed and unjustly dismissed from the Army. He was fully exonerated in 1976, and all military honors were posthumously returned.

After leaving the Army, Flipper pursued a career in business and government service that lasted nearly fifty years. His span of activites, many the first for a black man, included inventor, surveyor, cartographer, civil and mining engineer, author, newspaper editor, special agent for the U.S. Justice Department, assistant to the Secretary of the Interior, and pioneer in the nations oil industry.

Henry O. Flipper died in Atlanta on April 26, 1940 and was buried in an unmarked grave. On February 11, 1978, he was interred here with full military honors.

Erected 1989 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 136-6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is March 21, 1836.

Location. 30° 50.685′ N, 83° 59.28′

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W. Marker is in Thomasville, Georgia, in Thomas County. Marker is on North Madison Street just north of West Jerger Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker located in the middle of Flipper Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 West Madison Street, Thomasville GA 31792, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Big Oak (approx. 0.4 miles away); Thomas County Confederate Monument (approx. half a mile away); Thomas County (approx. half a mile away); Thomas County Honors African-American Leaders (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Post Office (approx. 0.6 miles away); Civil War Prison Camp (approx. ¾ mile away); The Plaza Restaurant (approx. 0.8 miles away); Flowers Baking Company (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thomasville.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Henry Ossian Flipper. (Submitted on July 7, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 14, 2021

2. First Black Graduate of West Point Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.