Colin Powell
1937 – 2021

Colin Powell

American general and diplomat (1937–2021)

security advisorarmy officerforeign ministersoldierdiplomat
Born
1937-04-05, New York City
Died
2021-10-18
Birthplace state
New York

Biography

Colin Luther Powell was an American Army general, diplomat, and statesman who was the 65th United States secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, being the first Black American to hold the office, and was the highest-ranking Black American in the federal executive branch in American history until the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008. Initially politically independent, Powell joined the Republican Party in 1995. He was the 15th national security advisor from 1987 to 1989, and the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993.

Occupation

Colin Powell is recorded as a security advisor, a army officer, a foreign minister, a soldier, a diplomat and a politician, born in New York (1937–2021).

Connections to New York

Colin Powell was born in New York City, New York in 1937. Explore other notable figures from New York, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from New York

Other historical figures born in New York, ranked by historical prominence.

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Donald Trump
American businessman and politician (born 1946), President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
president of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1882–1945)
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 (1858–1919)
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
American filmmaker (1928–1999)
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
American diplomat and activist, First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 (1884–1962)
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
president of the United States from 1837 to 1841

Frequently asked about Colin Powell

Who was Colin Powell?
Colin Powell was American general and diplomat (1937–2021), born in New York (1937 – 2021).
When and where was Colin Powell born?
Colin Powell was born on 1937-04-05 in New York City.
When did Colin Powell die?
Colin died on 2021-10-18.
What was Colin Powell known for?
Colin Powell is recorded as a security advisor, a army officer, a foreign minister, a soldier, a diplomat and a politician.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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