Ignatius Sancho
Encyclopedia
Ignatius Sancho was a composer
, actor
, and writer
. He is the first known Black Briton
to vote in a British election. He gained fame in his time as "the extraordinary Negro", and to 18th century British abolitionists he became a symbol of the humanity of Africans and immorality of the slave trade. The Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, edited and published two years after his death, is one of the earliest accounts of African slavery written by a former slave in English.
in 1729; his precise birthplace is thus unknown. After his mother died in the Spanish
colony of New Granada
and his father committed suicide
rather than live as a slave, Sancho was taken to England
and in 1731 was given to three maiden sisters living in Greenwich
. While a young man, he met John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu
, who took an interest in his education (much as Montagu already had in Francis Williams
's education), and in 1749 Sancho ran away and sought refuge with the Montagu families. The Duke had just died but his wife agreed to employ him as butler; when the Duchess of Montagu died in 1751 she left Sancho an annuity of £30 and a year's salary. The salary and his savings gave Sancho £70 in available money, which he spent lavishly as he sought to enjoy his life.
In 1766, Sancho became valet
to the newly recreated George Montagu
, first duke of the new creation and son-in-law of his earlier patrons. In 1768, Sancho's portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough
. With help from Montagu, Sancho and his wife, Ann Osborne, set up a grocery shop in Westminster
, early in 1774. In addition to shopwork, Sancho wrote and published a Theory of Music and two plays. As a financially independent male householder living in Westminster, Sancho qualified to vote in the parliamentary elections of 1774 and 1780; he was the first black person of African origin known to have voted in Britain. At this time he also wrote letters and in newspapers, under his own name and under the pseudonym
"Africanus": he supported the monarchy
and British forces in the American Revolutionary War
.
Ignatius Sancho died from the effects of gout
on December 14, 1780, and became the first African to be given an obituary in the British press. Two years later, Frances Crewe arranged for his letters to be published; these appeared as the two-volume The Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African. The book sold very well, and his widow received over £500 in royalties.
A plaque to the memory of Sancho was unveiled on June 15, 2007, by Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich, on the remaining wall of Montague House on the south west boundary of Greenwich Park
. The plaque was funded by Friends of Greenwich Park to commemorate bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, made law in 1807.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He is the first known Black Briton
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
to vote in a British election. He gained fame in his time as "the extraordinary Negro", and to 18th century British abolitionists he became a symbol of the humanity of Africans and immorality of the slave trade. The Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, edited and published two years after his death, is one of the earliest accounts of African slavery written by a former slave in English.
Biography
Ignatius Sancho was born on a slave shipSlave ship
Slave ships were large cargo ships specially converted for the purpose of transporting slaves, especially newly purchased African slaves to Americas....
in 1729; his precise birthplace is thus unknown. After his mother died in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
colony of New Granada
Viceroyalty of New Granada
The Viceroyalty of New Granada was the name given on 27 May 1717, to a Spanish colonial jurisdiction in northern South America, corresponding mainly to modern Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The territory corresponding to Panama was incorporated later in 1739...
and his father committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
rather than live as a slave, Sancho was taken to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in 1731 was given to three maiden sisters living in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
. While a young man, he met John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu
John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu
John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu, KG, KB, PC , styled Viscount Monthermer until 1705 and Marquess of Monthermer between 1705 and 1709, was a British peer...
, who took an interest in his education (much as Montagu already had in Francis Williams
Francis Williams
Francis Williams was a scholar and poet born in Kingston, Jamaica.Francis Williams was born around 1700 to John and Dorothy Williams, a free black couple in Jamaica. John Williams had been freed by the will of his former master and within ten years was able to acquire property...
's education), and in 1749 Sancho ran away and sought refuge with the Montagu families. The Duke had just died but his wife agreed to employ him as butler; when the Duchess of Montagu died in 1751 she left Sancho an annuity of £30 and a year's salary. The salary and his savings gave Sancho £70 in available money, which he spent lavishly as he sought to enjoy his life.
In 1766, Sancho became valet
Valet
Valet and varlet are terms for male servants who serve as personal attendants to their employer.- Word origins :In the Middle Ages, the valet de chambre to a ruler was a prestigious appointment for young men...
to the newly recreated George Montagu
George Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu
George Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, KG PC, FRS was a British peer.He was born George Brudenell in 1712 at Cardigan House, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in London, the son of the 3rd Earl of Cardigan and his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Bruce...
, first duke of the new creation and son-in-law of his earlier patrons. In 1768, Sancho's portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Suffolk:Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury, Suffolk. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a weaver and maker of woolen goods. At the age of thirteen he impressed his father with his penciling skills so that he let...
. With help from Montagu, Sancho and his wife, Ann Osborne, set up a grocery shop in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, early in 1774. In addition to shopwork, Sancho wrote and published a Theory of Music and two plays. As a financially independent male householder living in Westminster, Sancho qualified to vote in the parliamentary elections of 1774 and 1780; he was the first black person of African origin known to have voted in Britain. At this time he also wrote letters and in newspapers, under his own name and under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Africanus": he supported the monarchy
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
and British forces in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Ignatius Sancho died from the effects of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
on December 14, 1780, and became the first African to be given an obituary in the British press. Two years later, Frances Crewe arranged for his letters to be published; these appeared as the two-volume The Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African. The book sold very well, and his widow received over £500 in royalties.
A plaque to the memory of Sancho was unveiled on June 15, 2007, by Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich, on the remaining wall of Montague House on the south west boundary of Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is a former hunting park in Greenwich and one of the largest single green spaces in south east London. One of the Royal Parks of London, and the first to be enclosed , it covers , and is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. It commands fine views over the River Thames, Isle of...
. The plaque was funded by Friends of Greenwich Park to commemorate bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, made law in 1807.
External links
- Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, An African. In Two Volumes. To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of His Life. Vol. I. London: Printed by J. Nichols, 1782.
- Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, An African. In Two Volumes. To Which Are Prefixed, Memoirs of His Life. Vol. II. London: Printed by J. Nichols, 1782.
- Ignatius Sancho: African Man of Letters
- The Music of Ignatius Sancho
- Westminster Council's Abolition of the Slave Trade Commemoration website