Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was born
On this day in history, April 5, 1937, former Secretary of State and retired four-star United States Army General Colin Luther Powell was born.
Powell was the 65th Secretary of State, and became the first African-American to serve in that position. He has served under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. Powell is also the only African- American to serve on the
Born in Harlem, New York, Powell was raised in South Bronx by his Jamaican immigrant parents Maud Aria, a seamstress and Luther Theophilus Powell, who was a shipping clerk.
In 1991, Powell was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush and in 1993, he was named an honorary Knight Commander Most Honorable Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II.
Powell is currently married to Alma Johnson, and together they have three children together – Annemarie, Linda, and Michael.
