Alexander Dimitry

Alexander Dimitry
Louisiana Superintendent of Public Education
In office
1847–1849
Preceded byEstablished
Succeeded byRobert C. Nicholas[1]
U.S. Ambassador of Costa Rica & Nicaragua
In office
September 29, 1859 – April 27, 1861
Preceded byMirabeau B. Lamar
Succeeded byCharles N. Riotte
New Orleans Assistant Superintendent of Public Education
In office
1867–1868[2]
Personal details
Born(1805-02-07)February 7, 1805
New Orleans, Louisiana, US
DiedJanuary 30, 1883(1883-01-30) (aged 77)
New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Resting placeSaint Louis Cemetery No. 1
Spouse
Mary Powell Mills
​
​
(m. 1835⁠–⁠1883)​
ChildrenJohn Bull Smith Dimitry
Charles Patton Dimitry
Alma materGeorgetown University
ProfessionLawyer, Statesman, Educator
Known forEducation, Diplomacy
Other namesTobias Guarnerius
FamilyDimitry Family (Creoles)

Alexander Dimitry (February 7, 1805 – January 30, 1883) was an American author, diplomat, educator, journalist, lawyer, orator, and publicist. He was the first state superintendent of public instruction in Louisiana and represented the United States as Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He was the first person of color to hold both offices and despite his mixed heritage (quadroon), he was one of the few people of color to serve in the bureaucracy of the Confederate Government. Alexander generally passed as white but still witnessed countless incidents of racism. Two major incidents involving his family were documented in court entitled Forstall, f.p.c. v. Dimitry (1833) and Pandelly v. Wiltz (1854). Throughout his entire life, Alexander underwent constant persecution and was always reminded of his skin color and ethnic background.[3][4][5][6]

Dimitry was born in New Orleans to a Greek white father, Andrea Dimitry, and to a mixed Greek-African mother, Marianne Céleste Dragon. His father was from the Greek island Hydra. He grew up speaking a number of languages and promoted Greece throughout his entire life. He attended Georgetown University,[7][8][9] which later paved the way for other members of the Dimitry family to attend the institution.[10] He was a prominent educator throughout his entire life, giving lectures on many subjects including The Wonders of Astronomy and The Harmonies of Creation.

Dimitry was one of the founders of the secret society The Seven Wise Men or The Order of the Heptasophs. He was also a member of the Cosmopolitan Club and Louisiana Historical Society. He was one of vice-presidents during the Grand Unification Mass Meeting in 1873 to desegregate schools in Louisiana during the Jim Crow era.[11][12] He was a prominent educator and became a chair at the Pass Christian College. His children John Bull Smith Dimitry, Charles Patton Dimitry and Virginia Dimitry Ruth became prominent Creole educators and writers. His nephew Ernest Lagarde also followed in his footsteps speaking numerous languages and teaching at Mount St. Mary's University. Alexander died at seventy-seven years old in New Orleans and is buried at Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 along with other family members. The entrance at Wolf River was named Dimitry Point and the region is known as Alexander Dimitry Claim.[13][14][15]

  1. ^ Arroyo 1886, p. 73.
  2. ^ Rogers 1868, p. 102.
  3. ^ Broyard 2007, p. 149: "Alexander Dimitry had been thrown out of a society ball for being colored, only to be spotted a little while later dining at a local restaurant with his very accusers."
  4. ^ "Distribution of Paris Metals". The Chicago Tribune, Volume 21, No. 3541. Chicago, Illinois: The Chicago Tribune. June 22, 1868. p. 2, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023. The Principle Address was by Prof. Alexander Dimitry a gentlemen revered for his learning but said to possess a small mixture of African Blood.
  5. ^ "Nomination Confirmed". Evening Star, Volume 15, No. 2164. Washington D.C: Evening Star. January 25, 1860. p. 2, col. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023. Nomination Confirmed The appointment of Alexander Dimitry, as Minister to Africa, was yesterday confirmed by the Senate. amongst others.
  6. ^ "Buchanan Scrubbing the Ohio Democracy" (PDF). Weekly Ohio State Journal Vol. 49 No. 24 (Columbus Ohio), p. 2. Digital Academic Research Archives. September 26, 1859. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024. Prof. Alexander Dimitry, whom Mr. Buchanan has recently appointed Minister to Nicaragua is reported to be of African descent, in part, and could not be a voter, or eligible to hold office in this State, according to the Democratic law of last winter. His supposed Africanism, it is said, impaired his usefulness in Louisiana, his native state. The president probably wanted to spite the rebellious Democracy of Ohio in making this offensive appointment.
  7. ^ Alexander Dimitry - People - Department History - Office of the Historian
  8. ^ Brown 1900, pp. 462.
  9. ^ Shelby 1866.
  10. ^ Maxwell 1916, p. 111.
  11. ^ Reeves 1999, p. 132.
  12. ^ "Grand Unification Mass Meeting". New Orleans Republican, Volume VII, No. 82. New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans Republican. July 15, 1873. p. 2, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2023. Grand Unification Mass Meeting, At Exposition Hall, on Tuesday, July 15 at 7pm, An Appeal for the Unification of the People of Louisiana
  13. ^ Mary Helen Schaeffer (June 3, 2013). "Short History of Pass Christian 1931" (PDF). Pass Christian, MS: Pass Christian Historical Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Alderman, Smith & Metcalf 1901, p. 120.
  15. ^ Herringshaw 1901, p. 303.