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to vote was linked to land ownership. Investigations by the
Colonial Office confirmed Prescod's suspicions and the landowners were indeed buying up any small plots of land that did become available, even if this meant some small hardship for themselves. He was successful in getting a change in the law but the effect was minimal. In 1840 there were 1,153 voters; historian
174:, which was where he found his voice. This paper was targeted at working- and middle-class people irrespective of colour. The paper got into financial difficulties and Prescod was able to buy it in partnership with a man called Thomas Harris. Harris allowed him editorial freedom and this led to problems with the establishment, who saw him as challenging the
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Prescod was always in opposition to the government, but he worked with others to create the
Liberal Party. He was particularly noted for his work in creating educational facilities for the children of ex-slaves. This was not just primary and secondary education, but tertiary too, so it is appropriate
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On 6 June 1843, Prescod was one of two people elected from the new constituency of
Bridgetown. This was particularly difficult, as not only had he to overcome the prejudices, he had to work especially hard since it was only people who owned land who could vote. Moreover, this was not a secret ballot.
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in
Barbados as a leader of the coloured community. He was protesting at the high prices that landowners were putting on small plots of land. This was important, since the white owners were using this as a device to prevent other races from entering the land-owning middle class. Moreover, the ability
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Although it was said that
Prescod bore "no distinguishing marks of negro complexion" he was still subject to the racial discrimination endemic at that time. Even though he was well educated, a journalist and an acknowledged leader of the coloured community, he was thrown out of the Barbados House of
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Prescod was excluded from politics in
Barbados. A law of 1697 required that all voters should be white, own 10 acres (40,000 m) of land and be of the Christian religion. In fact it was not until 1721 that non-whites testimony was accepted in a court in Barbados.
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159:, the Governor, removed "certain restraints and disabilities imposed by law on His Majesty's Free Coloured and Free Black Subjects in this Island." Postage stamps of both Lyon and Prescod were issued in 2006 to commemorate this event.
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1840 must have been a very busy year for
Prescod, as not only was he writing letters of protest and travelling to Europe and back but he also served eight days in gaol for criminal libel arising out of his editorial freedom with
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calculates there was still less than five per cent of the population voting after the bill was passed on 6 June 1840, with the number of eligible voters in 1849 showing only a moderate increase to 1,322.
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at barbadosparliament.com, accessed 27 July 2008: "In April 1998, the Order of
National Heroes Act was passed. National Heroes Day was celebrated on 28 April, the centenary of the birth of
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Prescod began his political work in 1829 and it was on 9 June 1831 a major change took place that allowed people of colour the same rights to vote as white people. The new act passed by
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on 12 June 1840. The picture above shows him in a painting made to commemorate the event which attracted delegates from
America, France, Haiti, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica and Barbados.
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The portrait of Samuel
Prescod at the 1840 Anti-Slavery Convention still hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London. His portrait in particular was described by the artist,
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At that time the polling booth was a piece of paper with the names of the candidates shown. Beneath the name of your choice you had to sign your name for all to see.
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note and on the twenty-dollar note. The twenty-dollar note was redesigned in 1985 and 2000 but still retained Prescod's portrait. He has also appeared on stamps.
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In 1838, the concept of slavery was finally outlawed and about 80,000 slaves in Barbados lost their former status. Prescod, however, wrote:
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Prescod is to the right of this painting of the 1840 Anti-Slavery Convention. Move your cursor to identify him or click the icon to enlarge
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Prescod was aware that the laws preventing all from voting would prevent all the Barbadians from being truly free.
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116:(c. 1806 – 26 September 1871) became the first person of African descent to be elected to the Parliament of
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Fellow Men and Friends I have lived to see you declared free men and I hope ... to live and see you made free...
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newspaper. However, importantly the change in the emancipation had created a new constituency of "Bridgetown".
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Prescod died in 1871 at the age of 65 on 26 September and he was interred at St. Mary's Church in
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It was not until 1836 that non-whites were given their first newspaper, which was called the
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Representatives for observing the political process like any other citizen was entitled to.
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Prescod retired in 1860 and accepted a position as Judge of the Assistant Court of Appeal.
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Utilization, Misuse, and Development of Human Resources in the Early West Indian Colonies
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175th Anniversary of the Enfranchisement of Free Coloured and Black Barbadians
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at the National Portrait Gallery in London, 2008. Accessed 25 July 2008.
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The Parliament building stands to the north of what is now called
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The Economics of Emancipation: Jamaica & Barbados, 1823–1843
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Great House Rules: Landless Emancipation and Workers' Protest
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Prescod has featured as a face on the 1973 Barbadian one
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that an institute of technology was is named after him.
596:, 2006, Barbados Postal Service. Accessed 24 July 2008.
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Third World Mass Media and Their Search for Modernity:
561:(1904–1941), Sir Grantley Herbert Adams (1898–1987),
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described him as "the great tribune of the people".
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764:Prescod's Biography at the Government of Barbados
553:(1795–1866), Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806–1871),
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749:Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology
452:Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology
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37:Portrait at the 1840 anti-slavery convention
727:, Kates Paper money. Accessed 22 July 2008.
715:, University of North Carolina Press, 1995.
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458:parish, are named in his honour.
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102:William Prescod and Lidia Smith
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497:, The Parliament of Barbados.
341:World Anti-Slavery Convention
76:Journalist, Politician, Judge
575:Sir Garfield St Aubyn Sobers
454:and Jackmans, a town in the
433:Order of National Heroes Act
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60:26 September 1871 (aged 65)
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443:) would be celebrated as
85:National Hero of Barbados
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963:19th-century journalists
699:. Accessed 19 July 2008.
673:. Accessed 24 July 2008.
642:. Accessed 21 July 2008.
619:. Accessed 22 July 2008.
571:Sir Frank Leslie Walcott
555:Dr Charles Duncan O'Neal
522:. Accessed 21 July 2008.
136:(28 April) in Barbados.
907:National Heroes Square
711:Kathleen Mary Butler,
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634:, John A. Lent, 1977,
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431:In April 1998, the
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130:The Right Excellent
94:The Right Excellent
21:The Right Excellent
691:2016-03-03 at the
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537:2007-05-23 at the
493:2007-05-23 at the
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