John Chavis

John Chavis (c. 1763 – June 15, 1838) was a free black preacher, teacher, and farmer in the American South before the American Civil War.

Chavis was one of the first African Americans to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister, and he also operated a school for both white and black students.

He attended Washington Academy in Virginia, which was the first academy for higher education in Virginia that accepted both white and black students.

Chavis' school was shut down in 1831 when the North Carolina legislature banned education for free blacks.

John Chavis is remembered as a pioneer in the education of African Americans, a gifted teacher, and a strong advocate for racial equality and civil rights.