John Henry Conyers of South Carolina was the first black admitted to the United States Naval Academy on 21 September 1872. Conyers was nominated by South Carolina congressman Robert B. Elliott. After his arrival, he was shunned and constantly and brutally harassed. This included severe, ongoing hazing, including verbal torment, and beatings. His classmates even attempted to drown him. In the fall of 1872, Conyers was marching when he was kicked and punched by several other Cadets, among them the Academy's boxing champion George Goodfellow.