Oscar Dunn
| Oscar Dunn | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 11th Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana | |
|
In office 1868 – November 22, 1871 |
|
| Governor | Henry C. Warmoth |
| Preceded by | Albert Voorhies |
| Succeeded by | P.B.S. Pinchback |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Oscar James Dunn 1826 New Orleans, Louisian, USA |
| Died | November 22, 1871 (aged c. 45) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Resting place | St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Boyd Marchand |
| Children | Three adopted children from Ellen's prior marriage |
| Occupation | Musician; businessman |
| Religion | African Methodist Episcopal |
Oscar James Dunn (1826 – November 22, 1871) was one of three African Americans who served as a Republican Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana during the era of Reconstruction.
In 1868, Dunn became the first elected black lieutenant governor of a U.S. state. He ran on the ticket headed by Henry Clay Warmoth, formerly of Illinois. After Dunn died in office, then-state Senator P. B. S. Pinchback, another black Republican, became lieutenant governor and thereafter governor for a 34-day interim period.
He was born into slavery in 1826 in New Orleans. As his mother, Maria Dunn, was enslaved, he took her status under the law of the time. His father, James Dunn, had been freed in 1819 by his master. James was born into slavery in Petersburg, Virginia and had been transported to the Deep South in the forced migration of more than one million African Americans from the Upper South.
He was bought by James H. Caldwell of New Orleans, who founded the St. Charles Theatre and New Orleans Gas Light Company. Dunn worked for Caldwell as a skilled carpenter for decades, including after his emancipation by Caldwell in 1819.
After being emancipated, Dunn married Maria, then enslaved, and they had two children, Oscar and Jane. (Slave marriages were not recognized under the law.) By 1832, Dunn had earned enough money as a carpenter to purchase the freedom of his wife and both children. They gained the status of free Blacks decades before the American Civil War. As English speakers, they were not, however, part of the culture of free people of color, who were primarily of French descent, Catholic religion and culture.
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