Person    | Male  Died 13/1/1801

Francis Barber

Born in Jamaica circa 1742/3 with the name 'Quashey' (a common name for male slaves). He was brought to England by his owner, Colonel Richard Bathhurst, and was sent to school in Yorkshire and then to London as Dr. Johnson's valet. He was given his freedom in Bathurst's will, and after working for an apothecary and a period as a 'landman' aboard various ships he became Johnson's servant. After Johnson's death, he moved to Lichfield and opened a small village school in nearby Burntwood. Died in the Staffordshire Royal Infirmary. The portrait is in Dr Johnson's house in Gough Square. It is usually thought of as being of Barber, although there is no definite confirmation of this.

 

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Francis Barber

Commemorated ati

Francis Barber

The plaque is on the railings below the Royal Society of Arts one. Dec 2020:...

Read More

Other Subjects

Dr John Lettsom

Dr John Lettsom

Physician, philanthropist, abolitionist and entomologist. Born British Virgin Islands into a Quaker family. Aged 6 was sent to England to be educated. Came to London in 1766 to train at St Thomas' ...

Person, Medicine, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Virgin Islands

2 memorials
Iolo Morganwg

Iolo Morganwg

Born Edward Williams in Glamorgan. Founder member of the Unitarian movement in Wales, an anti-slavery campaigner, and political radical who called himself "The Bard of Liberty". As a stonemason he ...

Person, Poetry, Race Issues, Wales

1 memorial
Sharpeville Massacre

Sharpeville Massacre

This took place near the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in Transvaal (today part of Gauteng). After a day of demonstrations against pass laws (these were an internal pa...

Event, Race Issues, Tragedy, South Africa

1 memorial
Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Sir Henry Morton Stanley

Explorer and journalist, born as John Rowlands at Denbigh, Wales. Illegitimate and brought up in a workhouse, he sailed to America as a cabin boy in 1859. He befriended a trader called Henry Hope S...

Person, Exploring, Journalism / Publishing, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, Africa, USA, Wales

1 memorial
Sir Robert Viner (or Vyner)

Sir Robert Viner (or Vyner)

Lord Mayor of London, 1674-5.  Born Warwick.  Goldsmith and banker.  Lived at  Swakeleys House in Ickenham, where a school is named for him.  Died Windsor. Involved in the slave trade.

Person, Lord Mayor, Race Issues

2 memorials