John Morton-Finney was a true Renaissance man, earning an impressive 11 degrees during his lifetime. The former Buffalo Soldier Army man and educator is also considered by some historians the longest-serving lawyer of all time.
Morton-Finney was born to a former slave father and a free mother in Kentucky. The parents taught their seven children the value of education, which served the young man well early on. He joined the U.S. Army and became a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, better known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Morton-Finney fought twice, first in the Philippines and once more in World War I.