Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first African American to become a U.S senator in congress. Revels was born on September 27, 1827 in Fayetteville, North Carolina as a free black man. His early education came from a local black woman and he later on moved in with his brother, Elias Revels, to become a barber. After his brother died, Hiram continued on with his life with different jobs and eventually joined the United States Army as a chaplain. During the civil war, Hiram helped organize and recruit two black regiments in Missouri and Maryland.
Hiram was elected as a senator in Mississippi in 1870 by the state legislature, and won by a vote of 81 to 15. Revels took the place of Albert G. Brown, who left the U.S Senate in 1861 after Mississippi
Hiram was elected as a senator in Mississippi in 1870 by the state legislature, and won by a vote of 81 to 15. Revels took the place of Albert G. Brown, who left the U.S Senate in 1861 after Mississippi