William Henry Lewis (November 28, 1868 – January 1, 1949) was an American pioneer in athletics, law and politics. Born in Virginia to freedmen, he graduated from Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he also became one of the first African-American college football players. After going to Harvard Law School and continuing to play football, Lewis was the first African American in the sport to be selected as an All-American. In 1903 he was the first African American to be appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney; in 1910 he was the first to be appointed as one of the five United States Assistant Attorneys General, despite opposition by the Southern Democratic block. In 1911 he was among the first African Americans to be admitted to the American Bar Association.
Born |
28 November 1868 Berkley, Virginia
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Died |
1 January 1949 (aged 80) Boston, Massachusetts, US
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Zodiac | Sagittarius |
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