Alexander Darnes

Alexander H. Darnes was an African American who was born into slavery in St. Augustine, Florida and became the first black doctor in Jacksonville, Florida. As a youth and young man, he served Edmund Kirby Smith, the son of his master, in Texas with the United States Army, and during the Civil War when Kirby Smith served as a Confederate general.

Alexander H. Darnes was born into slavery at the SeguiKirby Smith House atAviles Street as the property of the Kirby Smith family. One or both of his parents were slaves of mixedrace, as Darnes showed substantial European ancestry. He is said to be the son of Violet Pinkney, a domestic servant in the household. In 1855 at about the age of 15, Darnes left the household to serve as personal valet to Smith, who wasyears older and by then a captain in the United States Army and accompanied him on tours in the western territories. Darnes also served Kirby Smith throughout the Civil War, when the latter fought as a general for the Confederacy.

Source: Wikipedia