Alexander Twilight
Alexander Lucius Twilight was an American educator, minister and politician. He is the first AfricanAmerican known to have earned a bachelors degree from an American college or university, graduating from Middlebury College in 1823. He was licensed as a Congregational preacher and worked in education and ministry all his career. In 1829 Twilight became principal of the Orleans County Grammar School. There he designed and built Athenian Hall, the first granite public building in the state. In 1836 he was the first AfricanAmerican elected as a state legislator, serving in the Vermont General Assembly he was also the only AfricanAmerican ever elected to a state legislature before the Civil War.
Alexander Lucius Twilight was born September 23, 1795, at Corinth, Vermont. Both his parents were free and mixed race, of African and English descent. It is unknown if they were born free they were likely descendants of African slaves and English ancestors. His father Ichabod Twilight was a Revolutionary War veteran. His mother Mary was described as white or lightskinned, implying she was of partial African descent. His parents were both listed in the Corinth town history as the first negroes to settle in Corinth.
Source: Wikipedia