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Biography · Politics & Public Life

Frederick Madison Roberts

1879–1952

United States

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Biography

Frederick Madison Roberts (September 14, 1879 – July 19, 1952) was an American newspaper owner and editor, educator and business owner; he became a politician, the first known man of African-American descent elected to the California State Assembly. He served there for 16 years and became known as "dean of the assembly." He has been honored as the first person of African-American descent to be elected to public office among the states on the West Coast. Roberts was a great-grandson of Sally Hemings of Monticello and President Thomas Jefferson.

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Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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