Aaron Molyneaux Hewlett

Aaron Molyneaux Hewlett (c. 18201871) was an educator who was the first African American instructor at Harvard University where he oversaw the college's gymnasium. He is recognized as the first African American superintendent of physical education in American higher education. Hewlett was instructor and curator of the college gymnasium from its construction in 1859 until his death in 1871 and has been called the "Father of Boxing" at Harvard.

Biography

Hewlett lived in Brooklyn before his job at Harvard. He worked as a porter but also taught boxing and wrestling. The New York Clipper, the leading New York sports paper, considered him "one of the best boxers in Brooklyn." in 1854 he quit his job as a porter, moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, and opened “Molineaux House,” a sparring academy, at his residence. After Hewlett had been working at Harvard for ten years, a local Boston paper commented that Harvard's "Athletics have come almost to rank with Mathematics." When he and his daughter were denied their seats at the Boston Theater in 1866, he petitioned the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to better enforce its own laws and revoke the licenses from establishments that illegally discriminated against African Americans.

Personal life Hewlett was born in New York, to Isaac and Rachel Hewlett. He married Virginia Josephine Lewis, a physical education instructor.

The New York Times published an editorial in 1916 about the "boxing revival" of the time at Harvard, mentioning Hewlettdeceased for over forty yearsas a prize fighter and a "midnight Mars" who came to Harvard from "the traditions of the ring." Emanuel Molyneaux called the editorial "uncomplimentary" and denied his father had been a prize fighter. The name Molyneaux or Molineaux occurs several times in the history of the ring. In 1809, Tom Molyneaux and his father, Jacob, were framed prizefighter at the old Catherine Markets in New York City. The never defeated Virginia native Jim Wharton "Molyneaux the Morocco Prince" (1813-1856).