Hiram Rhodes Revels of Mississippi takes the oath of office, becoming the first African American seated in the United States Senate.
At a Glance
- Date
- 25 February 1870
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Hiram Rhodes Revels
- Category
- Politics & Government
- Source
- U.S. Senate records, February 25, 1870 · U.S. Senate
What It Meant Then
It placed a Black man in a seat once held by Confederate president Jefferson Davis during Reconstruction.
What It Means Now
Revels is remembered as a pioneer of Black representation in the federal government.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Hiram Revels Becomes the First Black U.S. Senator.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/hiram-revels-becomes-the-first-black-us-senator/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Hiram Revels Becomes the First Black U.S. Senator. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/hiram-revels-becomes-the-first-black-us-senator/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Hiram Revels Becomes the First Black U.S. Senator.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/hiram-revels-becomes-the-first-black-us-senator/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.