Josiah Thomas Walls

Congressman Josiah Walls was the first Black representative to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida. He served from 1871 to 1873 and from 1875 to 1876 (42nd, portions of the 43rd and 44th Congresses). Walls was twice unseated by opponents who claimed he had been elected unfairly. Walls was born into slavery and was a servant in the Confederate Army until Union troops captured his regiment. Walls was later elected to fill Florida’s single seat in Congress, where he became a strong advocate for improvements within his state. He also supported a national fund for education and proposed the nomination of future Black Congressman John Mercer Langston to serve as vice president of the United States. Walls served on the Militia, Mileage, and Expenditures in the Navy Department committees.