John Hanks Alexander

John Hanks Alexander (6 January 1864 – 26 March 1894) was the first African-American officer in the United States armed forces to hold a regular command position and the second African-American graduate of the United States Military Academy.

Early life
John Hanks Alexander was born on 6 January 1864 at Helena, Arkansas to former slaves James Milo Alexander and Fannie Miller Alexander. His father was a barber in Helena and acquired property there. All of the Alexander children graduated from high school and three attended Oberlin College in Ohio.

Alexander graduated number one in his high school class in Helena and soon moved to Carrollton, Mississippi to take a position as a teacher. In late 1880 he visited his uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio and ended up remaining in that city. The next year, he enrolled at Oberlin College and attended that institution until passing the entrance examination for West Point in 1883. Alexander was sponsored by Democratic U.S. Rep. George W. Geddes of Ohio.

Military career
During his term at West Point, Alexander was generally accepted by the other cadets and was not subjected to as much intolerance as previous cadets. Alexander was known as an excellent student, especially in mathematics and languages and was a skilled boxer while at the academy. He graduated in the class of 1887 ranking 32nd in a class of 64.

Alexander was assigned to the 9th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Robinson, Nebraska which was an all-black regiment commanded by white officers and nicknamed Buffalo soldiers. Alexander became the only black officer in an actual command position. In 1888, he was transferred to Fort Washakie, Wyoming where he engaged in the normal activities of an officer with a western frontier posting.

In 1894, Alexander was sent to Wilberforce University, an all-black institution, as a professor of military science and tactics. Shortly after arriving Alexander died unexpectedly of a ruptured aorta on 26 March 1894. John Hanks Alexander is buried in Xenia, Ohio.

Legacy
A military installation at Newport News, Virginia was named Camp Alexander in honor of John Alexander.