Marcus Mosiah Garvey 1887-1940

Marcus Garvey was born on 17.08 1887 in St Ann's Bay, St Ann, the youngest of 11 children.

As a youth he went to Kingston & took up a job at the Government Printing Office. In 1910 he started to publish a small paper called "The Watchman".

In 1914, he founded  the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). He went to the US in 1916 & by 1921 the UNIA was the largest Black organisation in history with 859 branches in 30 countries.

In 1922 he was charged with fraud and imprisoned in Atlanta for 3 years before being deported back to Jamaica. He continued his work here. In 1935 he went to England & continued his work. In 1940 he suffered two strokes, dying from the second one in June. He was buried in London but in 1964 his body was returned to Jamaica & interred at National Heroes Park.

Norman Washington Manley 1893-1969

Norman Manley was born on 04.07.1893 at Roxborough, Manchester to Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, planter and Margaret Ann Shearer, from Blenheim, Hanover.

Manley had a brilliant mind & was a Rhodes Scholar. He was also an exceptional athlete in his youth.

In 1938 he founded the People's National Party & remained the Party's president until his retirement in 1969. He served as both Cheif Minister &, after Independence, Prime Minister.

He died on 02.091969 at the age of 76.

Alexander Bustamante 1884-1977

William Alexander Clarke was born on 24.02.1884 at Blenheim, Hanover to Robert Clarke & his wife Mary Wilson.

The family was very poor so he started working after only a primary school education. His job as a clerk required him to travel extensively & he took note of the sub-standard conditions of workers both here and abroad.

Upon his return to Jamaica in 1934 he started to bombard the press calling for improved conditions for workers; he used the nom de plume "Bustamante". In 1937 he became treasurer of the Jamaica Workers and Tradesmen's Union. He was arrested several times for his "inciteful" speeches & during WWII was detained for 18 months. In 1944 he had his name legally changed to Alexander Bustamante.

In 1943 he founded the Jamaica Labour Party & continued to fight for the rights of the poor. In 1953 he was named Cheif Minister.

Sir Alexander Bustamante, K.B., O.N.H., Ll.D (Hon.) became the first Prime Minister of independant Jamaica in 1962. He died on August 6, 1977 at the age of 93.

George William Gordon 1820-1865

Gordon was born in Mavis Bank, St Andrew to Joseph Gordon, a Scottish planter, & a slave woman. He was sent to live with his godfather in Black River who helped with his education though he was mostly self educated.

He became a large land owner & had many interests including social work & philanthropy. He founded credit unions & Jamaica's first building soceity.

At the age of 23 he was elected to the House of Assembly for St Thomas. There he advocated the rights of Negro peasants & radically criticized the government. In 1865 he took up Paul Bogle's cause which led to the Morant Bay Rebellion.

Upon hearing a warrant for his arrest had been issued he turned himself in to the Governor. He was arrested, tried & sentenced to death for treason. He was sentenced to death & was hanged on 23.10.1865

Jamaica's House of Parliament is named Gordon House in honour of him.               

Paul Bogle  c1822-1865

Paul Bogle is believed to have been born free near Stony Gut, St Thomas. He owned several small properties.

He was a political adherent of George William Gordon & a Baptist deacon. Gordon had appointed him as the leader of the group selected to make representation to the Governor but he & his followers were having meetings without Gordon's knowledge.

On 11, October 1865 he & about 300 followers marched on the Morant Bay Courthouse which was in session. They killed the Custos & 15 others & freed 51 prisoners. St Thomas was put under martial law & a reward was offered for Bogle.

He was captured & subsequently tried & hanged on 24.10.1865 in front of the burned out Morant Bay Courthouse. A statue of him now stands outside that courthouse.

Sam Sharpe 1801-1832

"Daddy" Sharpe was born a slave in Montego Bay. He was educated by his master for whom he was named & eventually became his right hand man.

One of his responsibilities was to carry "jobbing" slaves for hire to their work. He became very disgruntled at the general treatment of slaves & began to educate the slaves & preach freedom.

He was the main instigator of the 1831 Christmas Rebellion . His idea was the slaves would refuse to work on Christmas Day. This however led to massive violence which began in Montego Bay & rapidly spread throughout the entire island.

He was captured & hanged on 23.05.1832  in the Parade Square, Montego Bay, now Sam Sharpe Square.

Nanny of the Maroons  ?-c1734