Samuel L. Gravely – The Navy’s 1st Black Admiral
Black History Scrapbook
Week of: June 1, 2009
About Samuel L. Gravely
Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr. accomplished many firsts during his illustrious military career. He was born on June 4, 1922 in Richmond, Virgina. He passed on National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on October 22, 2004 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. A true African American Navy pioneer, Vice Admiral Samuel Gravely was the first African American in the U.S. Navy to be commissioned an officer, the first to serve aboard a fighting ship as an officer, the first to command a Navy ship, the first fleet commander, and the first to become an admiral.
During his lifetime he was bestowed many medals and honors including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal.
Samuel L. Gravely Videos
Additional Resources
Full Samuel L. Gravely Biography
Biographies In Naval History: Samuel Lee Gravely
