Black First of the Day

1804

York (c. 1770-c. 1832)

York (c. 1770-c. 1832) was the first black to reach the mouth of the Columbia River overland. He was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that explored the Missouri River and continued on to the mouth of the Columbia in the Pacific Northwest. He had been William Clark's slave since the two were boys and was said to be a key member of Lewis and Clark's expedition. York excited the admiration of Native Americans because of his size, strength, and color, and helped smooth relations with the tribes encountered during the journey. He became a valued member of the expedition, both for his skills and his public relations value. At the end of the expedition, York may have remained a slave for nearly a decade until Clark granted him his freedom. He returned to Kentucky, where he eventually gained his freedom, but he ran into difficulties in his attempts to establish a business. York remained in obscurity for a long time. A statue of him was later erected at the University of Portland, overlooking the Columbia River that flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Sources: Cantor, Historic Landmarks of Black America, pp. 313-14, 326-27; Logan and Winston, Dictionary of American Negro Biography, pp. 676-77; Garrett, Famous First Facts about Negroes, p. 68; New York Times (26 February 2000).

From Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Events by Jessie Carney Smith, © 2013 Visible Ink Press®. A celebration of achievement, accomplishments and pride.