Johnson Chesnut Whittaker

Johnson Chesnut Whittaker
Johnson Chesnut Whittaker as a West Point Cadet.
Born(1858-08-23)August 23, 1858
Camden, South Carolina
DiedJanuary 14, 1931(1931-01-14) (aged 72)
Orangeburg, South Carolina
Resting placeOrangeburg Cemetery, Orangeburg, South Carolina
EducationUniversity of South Carolina
United States Military Academy
Occupation(s)School teacher, school administrator, college professor, attorney

Johnson Chesnut Whittaker (August 23, 1858 – January 14, 1931)[1] was one of the first black men to win an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.[2] When at the academy, he was brutally assaulted and then expelled after being falsely accused and convicted of faking the incident.[3] Over sixty years after his death, his name was formally cleared when he was posthumously commissioned by President Bill Clinton in July 1995.[3]

  1. ^ Marszalek, John F. (2016-07-26). "Whittaker, Johnson Chesnut". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. ^ Purdum, Todd S. "Week in Review: 115 Years Late, He Won His Bars." New York Times (July 30, 1995).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference black was invoked but never defined (see the help page).