Alexander Dimitry

Alexander Dimitry (February 7, 1805 – January 30, 1883) was an American author, diplomat, educator, journalist, lawyer, orator, and publicist. He was the first state superintendent of public instruction in Louisiana and represented the United States as Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He was the first person of color to hold both offices and despite his mixed heritage (quadroon), he was one of the few people of color to serve in the bureaucracy of the Confederate Government. Alexander generally passed as white but still witnessed countless incidents of racism. Two major incidents involving his family were documented in court entitled Forstall, f.p.c. v. Dimitry (1833) and Pandelly v. Wiltz (1854). Throughout his entire life, Alexander underwent constant persecution and was always reminded of his skin color and ethnic background.

Dimitry was born in New Orleans to a Greek white father, Andrea Dimitry, and to a mixed Greek-African mother, Marianne Céleste Dragon. His father was from the Greek island Hydra. He grew up speaking a number of languages and promoted Greece throughout his entire life. He attended Georgetown University, which later paved the way for other members of the Dimitry family to attend the institution. He was a prominent educator throughout his entire life, giving lectures on many subjects including The Wonders of Astronomy and The Harmonies of Creation.

Dimitry was one of the founders of the secret society The Seven Wise Men or The Order of the Heptasophs. He was also a member of the Cosmopolitan Club and Louisiana Historical Society. He was one of vice-presidents during the Grand Unification Mass Meeting in 1873 to desegregate schools in Louisiana during the Jim Crow era. He was a prominent educator and became a chair at the Pass Christian College. His children John Bull Smith Dimitry, Charles Patton Dimitry and Virginia Dimitry Ruth became prominent Creole educators and writers. His nephew Ernest Lagarde also followed in his footsteps speaking numerous languages and teaching at Mount St. Mary's University. Alexander died at seventy-seven years old in New Orleans and is buried at Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 along with other family members. The entrance at Wolf River was named Dimitry Point and the region is known as Alexander Dimitry Claim.