Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (born
Pinckney Benton Stewart May 10, 1837 – December 21, 1921) was an American publisher and politician, a Union Army officer, and the first person of
African descent to become
governor of a
U.S. state. He was born free in
Georgia. A
Republican, Pinchback served as the
24th Governor of Louisiana for 15 days, from December 29, 1872, to January 13, 1873. He was later elected to the state legislature, serving in 1879-1880.