"George Boyer Vashon" (7-25-1824-October 5 1878)

From Charlie Pennsylvania,he was the son of John Baton Vashon,a mulatto and Anne Vashon.George's father,John was a well respected leader in Pittsburgh leader in Pittsburgh's African-American leader, a businessman,and abolitionist.George's father was also instrumental in establishing the first school for African-American in Pittsburgh.He attended his father's private school until 1837,then a public school where he displayed an aptitude for languages.At age 16,George was able to speak Sanskrit,Hebrew,and Persian,and was well versed in Greek and Latin.In 1840,he enrolled in Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Ohio.While at Oberlin,he was a member of Oberlin's prestigious men's literary societies,the Union Society.Also while there he was teaching at a school in Chilllicothe,Ohio.On August 28,1844 George became the first African-American from Oberlin College,receiving valedictory honors delivering a commencement speech address entitled "Liberty of Mind."In his speech,George asserted that "genius,talent,and learning are not withheld by our common father"from people of color.In 1849,George got his Master of Arts Degree,after graduation like his father he wanted to play a central role in advancing the cause of African-American people.He felt that pursuing a career in law could do this.He studied law under Walter Forward,a judge and prominent figure in Pennsylvania politics,yet after George applied for admission to the Allegheny County Bar it was rejected because of his race.He then through of Haitian emigration as means of developing his potential.He took and pass completed the New York bar examination on January 10,1848,becoming the first African-American to become a lawyer in New York.In 1849,George moved to Port-au Prince Haiti becoming a professor of Latin,Greek,and English.George also a correspondent to Frederick Douglass's newspaper "The Northstar."In 1851,he moved to Syracuse New York and joined the faculty of the New York Central College in McGrawville.After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850,he became involved in the Underground Railroad and state and national conventions.These forums brought African-Americans together to discuss critical issues confronting their communities and the means of ending the system of slavery.In 1857, he married Susan Paul Smith,granddaughter of the Rev.Thomas Paul, Sr.of Boston.The couple had seven children.In 1863,George became the second African-American president of Avery College in Pittsburgh.After the Civil War,George worked in the Solicitor's Office of the Bureau of Refugee's Freedmen,and Abandoned Lands in Washington D.C. He also became Howard University's first professor and was and was instrumental in establishing its law school.When he left Howard,he became a professor of Mathematics and Anicent and Modern Languages at Alcorn College in Rodney,Mississippi.He was considered a good teacher by his students and was well respected by his colleafues.When the yellow fever epidemic swept Alcorn's campus in the fall of 1878,George was one of its victims.He is buried on the college's campus.