P.B.S. Pinchback becomes acting governor of Louisiana, the first Black person to serve as a U.S. state governor.
At a Glance
- Date
- 9 December 1872
- Location
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Key people
- P.B.S. Pinchback
- Category
- Politics & Government
- Source
- Louisiana state records (1872) · U.S. Senate
What It Meant Then
His brief tenure during Reconstruction marked an early peak of Black political power.
What It Means Now
Pinchback's governorship would not be matched by an elected Black governor until 1990.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “P.B.S. Pinchback Becomes Governor of Louisiana.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/pbs-pinchback-becomes-governor-of-louisiana/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). P.B.S. Pinchback Becomes Governor of Louisiana. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/pbs-pinchback-becomes-governor-of-louisiana/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “P.B.S. Pinchback Becomes Governor of Louisiana.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/pbs-pinchback-becomes-governor-of-louisiana/.
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.