Kenneth Claiborne Royall

US Army general and Secretary of War and Army

Born: July 24, 1894  ·  Died: May 25, 1971

Politics & GovernmentWar & ConflictSocial & Human Rights
Kenneth Claiborne Royall
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Overview

Known for

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.

Major work

Truman's Executive Order 9981 for racial desegregation of the military forces of the United States.

Significance

Kenneth Claiborne Royall Sr.

Who was Kenneth Claiborne Royall?

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.

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Historical significance

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 racial desegregation of the military forces of the United States.

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Life and career timeline: Kenneth Claiborne Royall

  1. 1894 Born July 24 1894
  2. 1947 First Secretary of the Army after War Department abolished
  3. 1948 Executive Order 9981 signed July 26 1948 mandating desegregation
  4. 1949 Forced retirement for refusing to comply with Executive Order 9981
  5. 1971 Died May 25 1971

Related on thisDay

How Did Executive Order 9981 Desegregate the U.S. Military?

On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, banning segregation across the United States Armed Forces.

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: How Did Executive Order 9981 Desegregate the U.S. Military?Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Kenneth Claiborne Royall.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/kenneth-claiborne-royall/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

APA

Kenneth Claiborne Royall. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/kenneth-claiborne-royall/

Chicago

“Kenneth Claiborne Royall.” thisDay. Accessed October 26, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/kenneth-claiborne-royall/.

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