William Henry Lanier was born into slavery in Autauga County, Alabama in September 1855 (some sources indicate 1851).

[2] In the 1900 U.S. Census his month and year of birth are shown as September 1859.

[1] He taught school in several small towns in Mississippi, before becoming president of Alcorn State University from 1899 to 1905.

"[5] On Wednesday, August 16, 1911, while still serving as the head of the black schools in Yazoo City, Lanier was physically attacked by J. D. Suttlar, a black mail carrier in a highly publicized incident.

All black public schools in Jackson were closed on that day out of respect for the deceased.