Richard Hill (Jamaica) facts for kids

Richard Hill (1795-1872) was an important Jamaican lawyer and leader. He fought for equal rights for people of mixed race, known as the free people of colour, in the early 1800s. Besides being a lawyer, Hill was also a naturalist (someone who studies nature), a poet, a teacher, and a government worker.

Early Life and Education

Richard Hill was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on May 1, 1795. His father, also named Richard Hill, was a white merchant from England. His mother was of mixed heritage, with both East Indian and African roots. Richard also had two sisters, Ann and Jane.

Richard's father did not agree with slavery, which was common in Jamaica at that time. He made his son promise to fight for freedom. He wanted Richard to work until all unfair rules against black people were removed and slavery was ended.

Young Richard went to school in England at the Elizabethan Grammar School. In 1818, his father passed away. Richard then returned to Jamaica to take over his father's property.

Fighting for Equal Rights

In 1823, Richard Hill joined the movement for equal rights in Jamaica. This movement was led by free people of colour who wanted the same rights as white people.

Earlier, in 1813, another leader named John Campbell had helped free people of colour gain some rights. They could then inherit more property and sail their own ships in Jamaican waters.

Over the next ten years, they pushed for more rights. They wanted the right to speak in court. During this time, Hill spent two years in Hispaniola. He was studying social conditions there for the Anti-Slavery Society.

Hill and other future leaders, like Edward Jordon, joined the fight. This happened after two free coloured businessmen, Louis Celeste Lecesne and John Escoffery, were arrested and sent away from Jamaica.

In 1827, Hill helped create a special request to the British Parliament. This request asked for free people of colour to have equal rights with white people.

By 1830, thanks to the hard work of people like Hill, the Jamaican Assembly finally agreed. Free people of colour were given the right to vote. They could now take part in the political life of the island.

After Slavery Ended

In 1832, the governor made Hill a justice of the peace for Trelawny Parish. This meant he could help keep law and order.

In 1834, a new governor, Howe Browne, 2nd Marquess of Sligo, came to Jamaica. He chose special judges called stipendiary magistrates to oversee a system called "Apprenticeship." This system happened after slavery officially ended in 1834. Hill was one of these special judges.

Hill strongly criticized how badly white plantation owners treated their black apprentices. Because of his good work, Governor Sligo made Hill the Head of the Department of the Stipendiary Magistrates. This was a very important government job. Hill was the first mixed-race man to hold such a high position in the Colony of Jamaica. White plantation owners on the island did not like this and often attacked him in their newspapers.

However, a person who fought against slavery, James Phillippo, praised Hill. He said Hill was "an honour to the Government of the country." Other abolitionists, James Thome and J.H. Kimball, also met Hill and spoke highly of his skills.

Life After Emancipation

Richard Hill cared deeply about educating poor children. He helped start many elementary schools for the children of black farmers.

Between 1837 and 1838, Hill was elected to the Assembly. He represented the parishes of St James and Trelawny.

In 1840, the British government offered Hill a job as lieutenant-governor of St Lucia. But he turned it down. He wanted to focus on his government duties in Jamaica and his studies of nature.

From 1855 to 1865, Hill was a member of the Privy Council. This was a group of important advisors to the government. In 1851, when Jamaica had a cholera outbreak, Hill used his knowledge of plants to help save many lives.

Hill also wrote a book called A Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica (1851) with his friend, Philip Henry Gosse. Gosse later introduced Hill to Charles Darwin, a famous scientist. Darwin wrote to Hill to learn more about Jamaica's natural history.

Hill wrote and published at least four other books. These included A Week at Port Royal (1855) and Lights and Shadows of Jamaica's History (1859).

Later Years and Death

Richard Hill never married. He passed away in 1872 at the age of 78.