Prince Saunders facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prince Saunders
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Prince Saunders' portrait as it appears in the Haytian Papers
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| Born |
Prince Saunders
1775 |
| Died | 1839 (aged 63–64) |
| Nationality | Haitian, American |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Occupation | Educator, reformer |
Prince Saunders (1775–1839) was an important African American teacher, scholar, diplomat, and writer. He was born in either Lebanon, Connecticut, or Thetford, Vermont. Saunders helped create schools for African Americans in Massachusetts. He also helped King Henri Christophe set up schools in Haiti.
While in Haiti, Saunders wrote the Haytian Papers. This book translated Haitian laws and included his thoughts on them. He strongly believed that Black people should move to Haiti. He even became a citizen there. Because he helped start schools for African Americans, Saunders was a very important Black educator in the early 1800s. He spent his last years in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he died in 1839.
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Prince Saunders' Early Life
We know little about Prince Saunders' childhood. He was baptized as a Christian in 1784. Saunders grew up in the home of George Oramel Hinckley. Hinckley was a well-known white lawyer in New England. Living with Hinckley, Saunders received a good education. This education was similar to what many educated white people received at the time. Much of his learning focused on the Bible and Christian teachings. These lessons would influence his life later on.
Education and Teaching Career
By age 21, Saunders was already a teacher. He taught at a school for African Americans in Colchester, Connecticut. From 1807 to 1808, Saunders attended Dartmouth College. This college is in Hanover, New Hampshire. George Hinckley helped pay for his studies there.
While at Dartmouth, Saunders earned the respect of the college president, John Wheelock. Wheelock suggested that Saunders become a teacher. He recommended him for a free African American school in Boston. With Wheelock's help, Saunders got the teaching job. The school was run by William Ellery Channing, a minister in Boston.
Around this time, Saunders also joined Masonic lodges. In 1809, he became a member of the African Masonic Lodge in Boston. Two years later, in 1811, he became the lodge's secretary.
Saunders' Work and Influence
In 1815, Saunders helped Black education in Boston even more. He convinced a wealthy white merchant named Abiel Smith to give money for his cause. Saunders got Smith to donate money from stocks. This money was for teaching African Americans to read, write, and do math. Smith died in 1816, but his donations kept funding education for Black people. This led to the founding of the Abiel Smith School in 1835.
Later in 1815, Saunders traveled to Britain with Thomas Paul. They wanted to get official recognition for Black American freemasonry. This group is known as the Prince Hall Masons. They also wanted to strengthen ties with British people who wanted to end slavery. In London, Saunders met famous abolitionists William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson. He became lifelong friends with them. They convinced Saunders to help Haiti and its king, Henri Christophe. They wanted Saunders to lead educational efforts there.
Moving to Haiti
When Saunders arrived in Haiti, he became an advisor to King Christophe. Saunders impressed the king with his looks, manners, and amazing education. Christophe saw Saunders as a symbol of Black achievement. Because of this, Saunders became Christophe's official messenger.
King Christophe faced challenges from mulatto people and former French settlers. The French believed that Black people were less intelligent than white people. To prove them wrong, Christophe wanted to create a school system in Haiti. He believed Saunders was perfect for this job. Saunders was good at running schools and teaching. Also, he was Black. A successful school system led by a Black man would show the world what Black people could achieve.
Saunders made several trips between Haiti and London. On these trips, he brought back smallpox vaccinations. He also brought four teachers who helped create the Royal College of Haiti. This college was in Cape Henry. In return, King Christophe provided the schools with furniture and supplies. These were as good as what could be found in England at the time.
Prince Saunders' Writings
The Haytian Papers
While in Haiti, Saunders wrote the Haytian Papers. This book was published in London. It was his translation of Haiti's laws. It also included his thoughts on those laws. Saunders was interested in the history behind Haiti's laws. He noted that this history had not been written by Black Haitians. The book also included decrees from King Christophe. This gave readers a look into how the Haitian government worked.
In the Haytian Papers, Saunders praised King Christophe's government. Christophe wanted to prove that Black people were as smart as white people. He did this by building an education system in Haiti. This book was based on Christophe's Code Rural. This code supported a system of forced labor. This went against the goals of the Haitian Revolution, which aimed to end oppression. Christophe believed forced labor would greatly increase farm production.
Prince Saunders wrote the Haytian Papers for British people. Many British people had a negative view of Haiti. Saunders wanted to give them "more correct information" about the Haitian government. He also wanted to show the "much improved condition of all classes of society" in Haiti. He felt it was important for the feelings of Haitians to be known. Before this, Haiti's history was written by white Europeans. They did not fully understand the laws. The Haytian Papers shared the views of Black people.
Address to the Pennsylvania Augustine Society
In 1818, Saunders gave a speech called "An address before the Pennsylvania Augustine Society." In this speech, Saunders spoke about the importance of Christian education for Black people. He believed it was very important for their future. Saunders also argued that improvements in the lives of African Americans depended on their standing. This included their place in society, government, and religious groups.
The People of Haiti and Plan of Emigration
While in Boston, Saunders met Thomas Paul. Paul was the founder of America's Black Baptist Church. Both Saunders and Paul became activists in Massachusetts. They encouraged free Black people to move away from the United States. This was because of racial discrimination. After Saunders returned from Haiti to America, he began to suggest Haiti as a perfect place for Black people to move. During this time, he gave a speech called "The People of Haiti and Plan of Emigration."
In the same year as his speech to the Augustine Society, Saunders spoke at another event. This was the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. He also spoke about improving the lives of African Americans. In his speech, Saunders called for an end to slavery and racial inequality. He also encouraged Black people to move to Haiti.
Saunders had spent time in Haiti working for King Christophe. This made him very familiar with the country. He saw Haiti as a good choice for Black emigration. Saunders called Haiti "the paradise of the New World." He believed its location, size, climate, and rich land made it very interesting and important.
Prince Saunders' Social Life
During his time, Saunders was known for being very smart and speaking well. This showed how good his education was. He often impressed people with his knowledge. Such an education was rare for an African American at that time. Charles Robert Leslie wrote about Prince Saunders in his book, Autobiographical Recollections.
I was taken by my friend, Dr. Francis, of New York, to one of Sir Joseph Banks's conversazioni. The old gentlemen received his company sitting (being very gouty), in his library, at one end of which hung a portrait of Captain Cook. The room was filled with the most eminent scientific and literary men, but Prince Saunders, the coal black Boston negro, was the great man of the evening; a negro too of the most moderate abilities. Everybody asked to be presented to "His Highness." I got near to hear what passed in his circle, and a gentleman, with a star and ribbon, said to him, "What surprises me is that you speak English so well." Saunders, who had never spoken any other language in his life, bowed, and smiled acceptance of the compliment.
— Charles Robert Leslie, Autobiographical Recollections, 1860
While in England, Saunders also became a celebrity among the wealthy. Even though Prince was his real first name, English people thought it meant he was African royalty. This was partly because Saunders never corrected anyone who called him "His Highness." Because people thought he was noble, Saunders was often seen in English social groups. He was especially close with The Countess of Cork.
Later Years and Death
After King Christophe died, a writer named Harold Van Buren Voorhis claimed that Saunders became Attorney General. This was under Haiti's new president, Jean-Pierre Boyer. Saunders then lived most of his remaining life in Haiti. He died in Port-au-Prince on January 22, 1839.
Images for kids
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Prince Saunders' portrait
