Biography · Biography & Culture
John Chavis
1763–1838
United States
BIOGRAPHYPortrait not availableExplore the life, work and source references.
Biography
John Chavis (c. 1763–June 15, 1838) was a free Black educator and Presbyterian minister in the American South during the early 19th century. Born in Oxford, North Carolina, he was the first African American known to attend college in the U.S. and he fought for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Sources & collection details
Wikipedia contributors — original record ↗
Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13