Kenneth Claiborne Royall

Kenneth Royall
1st United States Secretary of the Army
In office
September 18, 1947 – April 27, 1949
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byGordon Gray
56th United States Secretary of War
In office
July 19, 1947 – September 18, 1947
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byRobert P. Patterson
Succeeded byPosition abolished
United States Under Secretary of War
In office
November 9, 1945 – July 18, 1947
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byRobert P. Patterson
Succeeded byWilliam Henry Draper Jr.
Personal details
Born(1894-07-24)July 24, 1894
Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedMay 25, 1971(1971-05-25) (aged 76)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMargaret Pierce Best
Children3, including Kenneth Jr.
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA)
Harvard University (LLB)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1917–1921
1942–1945
RankBrigadier General
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II

Kenneth Claiborne Royall Sr. (July 24, 1894 – May 25, 1971) was a U.S. Army general and the last man to hold the office of Secretary of War, which was abolished in 1947. Royall served as the first Secretary of the Army from 1947 to 1949, until he was compelled into retirement for refusing to comply with President Harry S. Truman's Executive Order 9981 for the racial desegregation of the military forces of the United States.


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