Oscar Dunn

Oscar James Dunn (1822 – November 22, 1871) served as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana during the era of Reconstruction and was the first African American to act as lieutenant governor of a U.S. state. He was also the first African-American to serve as acting governor of a U.S. state.

In 1868, Dunn was elected lieutenant governor of Louisiana, thus becoming the first African-American lieutenant governor of a U.S. state. He ran on the ticket headed by Henry Clay Warmoth, formerly of Illinois. In 1871, he became the first first African-American acting governor of a U.S. state after Governor Warmoth injured his foot and left Louisiana to recuperate on two occasions. Article 53 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1868 required the lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor "in case of impeachment of the Governor, his removal from office, death...resignation or absence from the state." Dunn served as acting governor of Louisiana for a total of 39 days. Dunn died in office, and the state legislature elected state Senator P. B. S. Pinchback, another African American Republican, to replace him as lieutenant governor. A year later, Pinchback became acting governor for his own 34-day interim stint.