David Moniac

David Moniac (December 25, 1802 – November 21, 1836) was a United States Army soldier of Muscogee descent. In 1822 he was the first Native American and first non-white graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.^[1] He was born into a prominent family of Upper Creek, and was related to major Creek leaders on both sides of his family.

Moniac was the first cadet to enter West Point from the new state of Alabama. Moniac resigned his commission in 1822, the year that he graduated, in order to manage his clan's property in Alabama, where he developed a cotton plantation.

David Moniac
Born	December 25, 1802 Near Pintlala, Alabama, United States
Died	November 21, 1836 (aged 33) Sumter County, Florida, United States
Buried	Florida National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Rank	Major
Unit	6th Infantry Regiment
Known for	First Native American to graduate from West Point
Battles / wars	Second Seminole War Battle of Wahoo Swamp  †
Alma mater	West Point Military Academy

In 1836, during the Second Seminole War in Florida, Moniac was commissioned as a Captain and selected to command a unit of Muscogee mercenaries who were hired to help fight against the Seminole. Most of the officers who commanded the Muscogee mercenaries were White, and he was the only Native American among them.

Moniac was killed by Seminole warriors at the Battle of Wahoo Swamp. In the 1990s, his remains were transferred from a local cemetery to the newly established Florida National Cemetery for military veterans, which was a few miles away.