Oscar Dunn | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 11th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana | |
| In office June 27, 1868 – November 22, 1871 | |
| Governor | Henry C. Warmoth |
| Preceded by | Albert Voorhies |
| Succeeded by | P. B. S. Pinchback |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Oscar James Dunn 1822[1] New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 22, 1871 (aged 48–49) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ellen Boyd Marchand |
| Children | 3 (adopted) |
| Occupation | Musician; businessman |
Oscar James Dunn (1822 – November 22, 1871) served as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana during the era of Reconstruction and was the first African American to act as governor of a U.S. state.[2]
In 1868, Dunn was elected lieutenant governor of Louisiana, thus becoming the first elected African-American lieutenant governor of a U.S. state. He ran on the ticket headed by Henry Clay Warmoth, formerly of Illinois. In 1871, he became the first African-American acting governor of a U.S. state after Governor Warmoth injured his foot and left Louisiana to recuperate on two occasions. Article 53 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1868 required the lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor "in case of impeachment of the Governor, his removal from office, death . . . resignation or absence from the state." Dunn served as acting governor of Louisiana for a total of 39 days.[2] Dunn died in office, and the state legislature elected state Senator P. B. S. Pinchback, another African American Republican, to replace him as lieutenant governor. A year later, Pinchback became acting governor for his own 34-day interim stint.
- ^ Orleans Parish Conveyance Book 7, p. 197, February 5, 1831. The original act of conveyance denoting the sale of Oscar to James Dunn lists his age as nine years old. Petition 40B, New Orleans City Archives VCP320 is a record of Oscar Dunn's emancipation, which was petitioned for by James Dunn on December 8, 1832, and lists his age as 10.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Brian K.; Edwards, Barrington S.; Weldon, Nick (2021). Monumental: Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana. Historic New Orleans Collection. pp. 232-33n144. ISBN 978-0-917860-83-6.