Actor. Born Ira Frederick Aldridge in New York City (his date of birth is approximate). He started his acting career with the African Company in the early 1820s, but faced with racial discrimination, he emigrated to Britain in 1824. His various roles culminated with the lead in Othello. He toured extensively throughout Europe and died while in Łódź, Poland.
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:
Ira Aldridge
Anti-slavery campaigner. Born Scotland. Aged 16 emigrated to Jamaica and saw slavery first hand as a slave overseer on a sugar plantation. Returned to England 1789. Sister Jean’s husband, Thomas Ba...
Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Africa, Jamaica, Scotland
Tory politician, slave trader and philanthropist. Date of birth unknown so we use his date of baptism, which took place at St Botolph, Aldgate. 1705 became a director of the Royal African Company w...
Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues
Ramirez's divorced wife's lover was murdered in Texas in 1998. Ramirez was indicted for solicitation of capital murder. In 1999 he was sentenced to death and executed in 2005.
Person, Law, Race Issues, Tragedy, USA
One of the world's most famous civil rights activists, A Baptist minister, he visited London in December 1964 on his way to Oslo to collect his Nobel Peace Prize. He stayed at the Hilton, spoke at ...
Person, Race Issues, Religion, Seriously Famous, Tragedy, USA
Anti-slavery and civil rights campaigner. Born Trinidad. After the USA he arrived in London in 1896 to study. Qualified in law. Elected in 1906 for Church Street Ward, the first black councillo...
Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands
