Ely Parker

Ely Samuel Parker (1828–1895), also known by his Seneca name Ha-sa-no-an-da, was a Seneca Nation member of the Iroquois Confederacy and a pioneering military officer in American history. Born on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation in New York, Parker received an education that was unusual for a Native American of his era, becoming fluent in multiple languages and trained as an engineer. When the Civil War erupted, Parker initially faced discrimination due to his race and Native American heritage but eventually gained an appointment and rose to prominence as a trusted aide and military secretary to General Ulysses S. Grant. Parker was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox and reportedly drafted the terms of surrender. In 1867, he was commissioned as a brigadier general, making him the first Native American to achieve this rank in the U.S. Army. After the war, Parker served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, where he advocated for Native American rights and welfare, though his efforts were often constrained by the prevailing policies of the era. Parker's legacy represents both the contributions Native Americans made to American history and the systemic barriers they continued to face despite their achievements.