Edward Alexander Bouchet was born in New Haven, Connecticut on September 15, 1852. He was the son of William Frances and Susan (Cooley) Bouchet. William Bouchet migrated to New Haven from South Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 as the valet of the father of Judge A. Heaton Robinson of New Haven. The senior Bouchet was said to have been prominent in New Haven's Black community, serving as deacon of the Temple Street Church, the oldest Black church in the city. Edward Bouchet attended the New Haven High School (1866-1868) and graduated from Hopkins Grammar School (1870) as valedictorian of his class.
Edward Bouchet entered Yale College in 1870 and was the first African American to graduate Yale College in 1874. On the basis of his academic record he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Although Bouchet was elected to Phi Beta Kappa along with other members of the Yale class of 1874, the election did not take place until 1884, when the Yale chapter was reorganized after thirteen years of inactivity. (Source) Because of the circumstances, Bouchet was not (as frequently stated in other historical sources), the first African American elected to Phi Beta Kappa. George Washington Henderson (University of Vermont) was elected in 1877 as the first.
Bouchet continued the study of graduate physics at Yale, where he was awarded a Ph.D. in Physics in 1876. Bouchet was the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from an American university.
Edward Bouchet entered Yale College in 1870 and was the first African American to graduate Yale College in 1874. On the basis of his academic record he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Although Bouchet was elected to Phi Beta Kappa along with other members of the Yale class of 1874, the election did not take place until 1884, when the Yale chapter was reorganized after thirteen years of inactivity. (Source) Because of the circumstances, Bouchet was not (as frequently stated in other historical sources), the first African American elected to Phi Beta Kappa. George Washington Henderson (University of Vermont) was elected in 1877 as the first.
Bouchet continued the study of graduate physics at Yale, where he was awarded a Ph.D. in Physics in 1876. Bouchet was the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from an American university.
Faces of Science: Edward Alexander Bouchet, PhD
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