George William Hamilton facts for kids
George William Hamilton (born in 1786, died on October 18, 1857) was a planter in Jamaica. A planter was someone who owned and managed a large farm, often growing crops like sugar cane. In 1820, he was chosen to be a member of the House of Assembly of Jamaica. This was like a parliament or government body for the island of Jamaica at that time.
Contents
A Planter in Jamaica's History
George William Hamilton lived during a time when slavery was still legal in many parts of the world, including Jamaica. He was known as a planter, which meant he owned large farms called plantations. These plantations relied on the forced labor of enslaved people.
The House of Assembly
In 1820, Hamilton was elected to the House of Assembly of Jamaica. This was an important group of people who helped make laws and decisions for Jamaica. Being a member meant he had a role in the island's government and its economy.
The End of Slavery and Compensation
A big change happened in 1833 when the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was passed in the British Empire. This law made slavery illegal. However, instead of compensating the formerly enslaved people, the British government decided to pay money to the slave owners. This payment was made under the Slave Compensation Act 1837.
How the Compensation Worked
The British government borrowed a huge amount of money, £15 million, to pay the slave owners. This money was borrowed from bankers like Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore. British taxpayers then had to pay back this loan, which finally ended in 2015.
Payments to George William Hamilton
George William Hamilton was one of the people who received money from this compensation plan. Records show he was connected to seven different claims. He received a payment of £11,704 because he had owned 671 enslaved people in Jamaica. This payment was a significant amount of money at the time.
