Person    | Male  Born 1729  Died 14/12/1780

Ignatius Sancho

Writer, shopkeeper and socialite. Born on a slave ship bound for the West Indies (his birth year is approximate). His first name was Charles, but he was baptised Ignatius. His mother died soon after arriving in New Granada and his father died by suicide rather than become a slave. He was brought to England by his owner and given to three sisters who gave him the name of Sancho. Befriended by John, 2nd Duke of Montagu who encouraged his education he became butler to his wife. At her death he was left an annuity and opened a shop in Westminster. He became the friend of many famous people of the time, including David Garrick and Gainsborough who painted his portrait. He was the first known Afro-Briton to have voted in a British election. His edited letters were published after his death.

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

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ignatius Sancho

Commemorated ati

Ignatius Sancho - SE3

Ignatius Sancho, c1729 - 1780, African man of letters, composer and opponent ...

Read More

Ignatius Sancho - SW1

Ignatius Sancho, 1729 - 1780, writer, symbol of the humanity of Africans, liv...

Read More

Other Subjects

Jamrach's Emporium

Jamrach's Emporium

Exotic shop dealing in wild animals. It was run by Charles Jamrach, who inherited the business from his father. Known to seafarers throughout the world, they would bring animals from distant lands ...

Place, Commerce, Animals

2 memorials
Roman warehouse

Roman warehouse

The picture source says "Near the Courage Brewery Site archaeologists found the complete wooden floor of a riverside warehouse. Nothing like this has been found anywhere else. The basement would ha...

Building, Commerce, Romans

1 memorial
Walter T. Davis

Walter T. Davis

Worked for the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Was on the building committee for the Abbey Wood branch in 1912. The Royal Collection Trust hold "The History of the Royal Arsenal Co-operative S...

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Westminster Bank

Westminster Bank

Founded as the London and Westminster Bank, it was the first firm founded under the Bank Charter Act of 1833. It wasn't until 1923 that it became known solely as the Westminster Bank. Its merger wi...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Burlington House - Flaxman

Burlington House - Flaxman

W1, Piccadilly, Royal Academy

This building is commonly known as the Royal Academy (of Arts). The wings of the building are occupied by a number of learned societies, ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Susanna Noel

Susanna Noel

Mother of 3rd Earl of Gainsborough.

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial
Leslie T. Healey

Leslie T. Healey

Fireman killed as a result of an air raid on Old Palace School, Bow, E3 on 20 April 1941. Our colleague Andrew Behan has kindly researched this man: Auxiliary Fireman Leslie Thomas Healey was born...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Tower Hill Improvement Trust

Tower Hill Improvement Trust

Created by Tubby Clayton, Dr B R Leftwich, Lord Wakefield and Sir Follett Holt.  Purpose: to improve Tower Hill by removing from it certain ugly buildings which at that time disfigured it and hampe...

Group, Architecture, Social Welfare

2 memorials