He attended college in Metz before moving with his family to the United States in 1844, settling near Lockport, New York. He moved with his wife to Milwaukee in 1857, where he started a wholesale wine and liquor business. Black was active in politics, having served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Wisconsin State Senate, the Milwaukee Common Council, and, in 1878, as Mayor of Milwaukee for a two-year term, a Democrat in a city largely Republican at the time.
He studied at college in Metz before moving with his family to the United States in 1844, settling near Lockport, New York. He relocated with his wife to Milwaukee in 1857 and started a wholesale wine and liquor business there. Black was politically active, serving on the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Wisconsin State Senate, the Milwaukee Common Council, and as Mayor of Milwaukee from 1878 to 1880, a Democrat in an area that was mostly Republican at the time.