Hugh Nathaniel Mulzac" [March 26,1886-January 30,1971]

The first African American ship commander,was the first African American ship commander,was born in the British West Indie's Union Island in Saint Vincent Grenadines.
After graduating from High School,Hugh served on British merchant vessels.He earned a mate's license from Swansea Nautical College in Great Britain and reached the rank of mate.During World War I Hugh served as a ship's officer on British and American Ships.In 1918 he immigrated to the United States,becoming a citizen that same year and two years later he became the first African American to pass the shipping master's examination.


In 1920 Hugh joined Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).Because of his history with seafaring vessels he was named a chief  officer on the SS Yarmouth,one of the UNIA'sBlack Star Line vessels.Hugh resigned from his position in 1921 he because of disagreements with the Marcus organization.For the next twenty years,racial discrimination in the shipping industry forced Hugh to work as a steward despite his previous experience.


In 1942 his career was briefly rescued when the United States Maritime Commission offered Hugh at the age of  56,the opportunity to command to command the first Liberty Ship named after an African American,the SS Booker T.Washington.He initially declined the offer because Commission required him to command an all African American crew.When the NACCP and other African American organizations protested,Commission offcials then changed the racial policy and from 1942-1947 he commanded an ingtegrated crew.Various Liberty ships under his command made 22 rounds trips,transporting 18,000 soldiers to the war theatre in Europe and the Pacific.
When his last assignment on a liberty ship ended in 1947,now 61 Hugh was still denied the opportunity to command privately owned commericial vessels.He retired from seafaring and turned to radical politics.In 1950,Hugh ran on the American Labor Party (ALP) tickets for Queens Borough President.He received only 15,000 votes in his losing bid.With the U.S. in the midst of the Cold War,Hugh in 1951 was blacklisted by shipping companies because of affiliation with the controversial ALP which many considered a Communist organization.The U.S.Government also revoked his seaman's papers and license.In 1960,a federal judge reinstated Hugh's seaman's documents and license and soon afterwards at the age of 75 Hugh found work again as a seaman.
Hugh was a self taught painter,and in 1958,thirty-two of his paintings were put on exhibit at a one man show in the Countee Cullen Library in Manhattan.
On September 29,he married Marie Avis,a native of Jamaica; they would have four children.Their youngest daughter Una,was the founder of  prominent Harlem-based and black power-oriented bookstore,Liberation Bookstore.
Hugh died in East Meadow,New York.