William H. Nicholson (1869–1911) was the first
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
fireman in the
New York City Fire Department. He was assigned to Engine Company 6 and detailed to the veterinary department to feed the horses and shovel manure.
Biography
William H. Nicholson was born in 1869 in Virginia. He migrated to New York City and worked as a cement tester. He joined the
New York City Fire Department in Brooklyn in 1898 and was detailed to the veterinary unit to feed the horses and shovel manure.
[
Nicholson retired because of his bad health in 1911 and died a few weeks later.]
See also
*Wesley Augustus Williams
Wesley Augustus Williams (August 26, 1897 – July 3, 1984) was the third African-American to join the New York Fire Department and the first to be promoted to an officer. He was one of the founders of the Vulcan Society in 1940.
Biography
He was ...
—Third African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
fireman in the New York City Fire Department
Vulcan Society
Footnotes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholson, William H.
1869 births
1911 deaths
African-American history in New York City
African-American segregation in the United States
New York City firefighters