Kingston, St Andrew Parish, Jamaica — Caribbean Region of the Americas (Greater Antilles of the West Indies)
Samuel Sharpe
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 27, 2022
1. Samuel Sharpe Marker
Samuel Sharpe
Circa 1801 - May 23, 1832
Samuel "Daddy” Sharpe was born as an enslaved person in Montego Bay, St. James. He worked in the fields and later in the Plantation house. His superior intellectual and oratorical skills, demonstrated through his organisation and leadership as a Deacon in the Baptist Church, enabled him to extensively influence, mobilise and lead a general strike of thousands slaves across several parishes in western Jamaica; that ultimately became known as the Christmas or Emancipation Rebellion.
In December 1831, the planned passive resistance to slavery and the petition for wages on the Kensington Estate, Montego Bay broke out into a war for freedom. For his role in organising the strike, Sharpe was tried, found guilty, sentenced to death and hanged on May 23rd 1832 in Montego Bay.
It was the largest slavery uprising in the British Caribbean and its impact was pivotal to the passing of the Emancipation Act in England in 1834 and the total emancipation of slavery across all British colonies in 1838.
Famous Quote:
"I would rather die upon yonder gallows, than live in slavery".
Sam Sharpe was conferred the Order of National Hero in 1982 for his role as a freedom fighter against the institution of slavery and the impact of the Rebellion on
this page online
A Rotary Club of Kingston 2018 Project
Proudly Sponsored by: National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited
Sculptor: Basil Watson, OD
Erected 2018 by Rotary Club of Kingston.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Colonial Era. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1832.
Location. 18° 0.151′ N, 76° 47.368′ W. Marker is in Kingston, St Andrew Parish. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Oxford Road and Knutsford Boulevard, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the grounds of Emancipation Park. Touch for map. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. George William Gordon (here, next to this marker); Nanny of the Maroons (a few steps from this marker); The Order of National Hero (a few steps from this marker); Marcus Mossiah Garvey (a few steps from this marker); Paul Bogle (a few steps from this marker); Norman Washington Manley (within shouting distance of this marker); Sir William Alexander Bustamante (within shouting distance of this marker); Rita Marley (approx. 2.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kingston.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, June 27, 2022
2. Samuel Sharpe Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2022, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 256 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2022, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
