Josiah Thomas Walls

Born: December 30, 1842 in Westchester, Virginia

Died: May 15, 1905 in Tallahassee, Florida

United States Representative, 1871–1873; 1873–1876

Republican from Florida

• Walls was the first African American elected to the U.S. Congress from Florida and the only Black Representative from Florida until the early 1990s. 
• Walls was born a slave near Winchester, Virginia. 
• During the Civil War, Walls was forced into service in the Confederate Army but was captured by Union troops in 1862 at Yorktown. In 1863 he joined the Third Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops. The unit took part in the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina (July 1863), and in the Florida campaign (February and March 1864). 
• Walls was a strong supporter of public education for all races. During the 43rd Congress, he argued in support a national education fund financed by the sale of public land. He also supported measures that benefited the economic conditions of all Floridians. 
• Walls was unable to get reelected and struggled in the last years of his life from personal tragedy and financial misfortune. He died in obscurity in Tallahassee on May 15, 1905 at the age of 62. 
• Walls was the only Black Representative from Florida until a group of African American lawmakers were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. They were Corrine Brown (1993-2017), Alcee Lamar Hastings (1993-present) and Carrie P. Meek (1993-2003).

Josiah Thomas Walls

1875

Brady-Handy Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Image courtesy of Library of Congress: Hon. Josiah Thomas Walls of Florida.