James Henry Conyers, born October 24, 1855 in South Carolina, was the first African American admitted to the US Naval Academy. He was nominated by South Carolina congress Robert B. Elliott, also an African American. After completing his exams, he was sworn in September 24, 1872 as a cadet-midshipman.
Life at the academy was particularly harsh and Conyers was the target of brutal hazing, being spit on, and physically attacked. In one incident, his fellow midshipmen tried to drown him. Nine cadets were dismissed from the academy after one brutal attack, but Conyers resigned in October 1873.
He returned to South Carolina and lived a quiet life until he passed November 29, 1935.
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