David Pitt, Baron Pitt of Hampstead
Encyclopedia
David Thomas Pitt, Baron Pitt of Hampstead (3 October 1913–14 December 1994) was a civil rights
campaigner and was one of the first persons of African descent to sit in the British House of Lords
.
, Pitt won a scholarship to come to Britain
in 1933 to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh
. After graduating, he returned to the Caribbean
to practise medicine in Trinidad
, where he helped found the West Indian National Party
, which campaigned for West Indian self-government. In 1947, he again travelled to Britain and settled in London
. He opened a medical practice in the Euston area of London, and he treated both white and black patients.
, he was the first person of African descent to be a parliamentary candidate, standing as the Labour candidate for the north London constituency of Hampstead
. In this election, issues of race were injected into the campaign, and he was defeated by the Conservative
candidate, Henry Brooke
. During the course of the campaign, Pitt received racist death threats, as did his family; however, in the face of the racist abuse, Pitt refused to withdraw from the race. He subsequently founded the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination, which was Britain's first civil rights organization.
Two years later, in 1961, he was elected to the London County Council
as member for Hackney
, and served on the LCC and its successor, the Greater London Council
, until 1975; he was the first ethnic minority to be elected to this position in local government. He was deputy chair of the GLC from 1969–1970, and in 1974 he was the first black person to become chair of the GLC.
Pitt's second attempt to be elected as an MP came in 1970
, when he was the Labour candidate for Clapham
. Although this had been seen as a safe seat for Labour, the Conservative William Shelton was elected. Enoch Powell
was simultaneously campaigning on ending immigration; consequently, many believe that racism was a factor in this general election defeat as well.
In 1975, the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson
, recommended Pitt's appointment to the House of Lords
as a life peer
, and he was created Baron Pitt of Hampstead, of Hampstead in Greater London and of Hampstead in Grenada. As a member of the House of Lords, he played a leading role in campaigning for the Race Relations Act 1976
. He was a leader in the movement against apartheid in South Africa.
Pitt was described as a black radical for suggesting that more ethnic minorities put themselves forward to become police officers, which ironically, angered many in the black community who felt that the police were institutionally racist. Lord Pitt is quoted saying "Some black people regard me as an Uncle Tom,while some whites regard me as a Black Power revolutionary. So I imagine I got it about right."
From 1985 to 1986 he was president of the British Medical Association
, which Pitt described as his most valued honour.
In 2004, he was named as one of 100 Great Black Britons
, as part of Black History Month
.
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
campaigner and was one of the first persons of African descent to sit in the British House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
Early life
Born in GrenadaGrenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, Pitt won a scholarship to come to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1933 to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. After graduating, he returned to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
to practise medicine in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, where he helped found the West Indian National Party
West Indian National Party
The West Indian National Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1976 general elections, but received just 1,242 votes and failed to win a seat. It did not contest any further elections....
, which campaigned for West Indian self-government. In 1947, he again travelled to Britain and settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He opened a medical practice in the Euston area of London, and he treated both white and black patients.
Political Career in Britain
In the 1959 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
, he was the first person of African descent to be a parliamentary candidate, standing as the Labour candidate for the north London constituency of Hampstead
Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)
Hampstead was a borough constituency, centered on the Hampstead area of North London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who was elected using the first-past-the-post voting system....
. In this election, issues of race were injected into the campaign, and he was defeated by the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate, Henry Brooke
Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor
Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor CH, PC was a British Conservative Party politician.-Political career:...
. During the course of the campaign, Pitt received racist death threats, as did his family; however, in the face of the racist abuse, Pitt refused to withdraw from the race. He subsequently founded the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination, which was Britain's first civil rights organization.
Two years later, in 1961, he was elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
as member for Hackney
Metropolitan Borough of Hackney
The Metropolitan Borough of Hackney was a Metropolitan borough of the County of London from 1900 to 1965. Its area became part of the London Borough of Hackney.-Formation and boundaries:...
, and served on the LCC and its successor, the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, until 1975; he was the first ethnic minority to be elected to this position in local government. He was deputy chair of the GLC from 1969–1970, and in 1974 he was the first black person to become chair of the GLC.
Pitt's second attempt to be elected as an MP came in 1970
United Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
, when he was the Labour candidate for Clapham
Clapham (UK Parliament constituency)
Clapham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. Although this had been seen as a safe seat for Labour, the Conservative William Shelton was elected. Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
was simultaneously campaigning on ending immigration; consequently, many believe that racism was a factor in this general election defeat as well.
In 1975, the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
, recommended Pitt's appointment to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
as a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
, and he was created Baron Pitt of Hampstead, of Hampstead in Greater London and of Hampstead in Grenada. As a member of the House of Lords, he played a leading role in campaigning for the Race Relations Act 1976
Race Relations Act 1976
The Race Relations Act 1976 was established by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to prevent discrimination on the grounds of race.Items that are covered include discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic and national origin in the fields of employment, the provision of...
. He was a leader in the movement against apartheid in South Africa.
Pitt was described as a black radical for suggesting that more ethnic minorities put themselves forward to become police officers, which ironically, angered many in the black community who felt that the police were institutionally racist. Lord Pitt is quoted saying "Some black people regard me as an Uncle Tom,while some whites regard me as a Black Power revolutionary. So I imagine I got it about right."
From 1985 to 1986 he was president of the British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
, which Pitt described as his most valued honour.
In 2004, he was named as one of 100 Great Black Britons
100 Great Black Britons
The 100 Great Black Britons list was compiled as a response to the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons debate of .Patrick Vernon, founder of black heritage website Every Generation, pointed out that no black people had made it to the top 100, saying that this was due in part to many people being unaware of...
, as part of Black History Month
Black History Month
Black History Month is an observance of the history of the African diaspora in a number of countries outside of Africa. Since 1976, it is observed annually in the United States and Canada in February, while in the United Kingdom it is observed in October...
.