John Brown Russwurm is considered to be the first
Black in America to graduate college. Two years after entering Bowdoin
College, he received his baccalaureate degree on
September 6,1826. A lesser known Black student,
Edward Jones graduated just two weeks before on
August 23,1826 from Amherst College. Both men
received their Masters, John in 1829 and Edward
in 1830.