Sir Philip Gibbes, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Philip Gibbes, 1st Baronet, also known as Gibbs (1731–1815), was an important plantation owner in Barbados. He was a key figure in the Caribbean during a time of big changes, especially with the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
Life of Sir Philip Gibbes
Philip Gibbes was born in St James' Parish, Barbados, on March 7, 1731. His parents were Philip Gibbes and Elizabeth Harris. His family had been in Barbados for a long time, since his ancestor Philip settled there in 1648.
He traveled to London, England, to study law at the Middle Temple. After his studies, he returned to the West Indies to manage his family's sugar plantations. He became a member of the Barbados legislature, which was like the island's government. He advised the governor in Bridgetown on legal matters. Even though he owned land in Barbados, he spent a lot of time in Great Britain. People called him an "absentee owner" because he wasn't always on his plantations.
Sir Philip Gibbes was given a special title called a "baronet" on May 30, 1774. This title meant he was a "Sir" and his family could pass the title down.
Meeting Benjamin Franklin
During the American Revolutionary War, Barbados was in a risky spot. Sir Philip Gibbes met with Benjamin Franklin in Paris to talk about the war. They might have met earlier in London. Gibbes tried to act as a "mediator," meaning he tried to help both sides find a peaceful solution. He visited Franklin twice in 1777 and 1778. The King of England even warned his Prime Minister, Lord North, about Gibbes, calling him a "doubtful character." Still, the Prime Minister met with Gibbes, who was representing other plantation owners from the Caribbean.
In 1777, Gibbes joined a group called the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. He was also quoted in a newspaper in 1780, during the Gordon Riots, saying he supported forming a volunteer group to help keep peace in Marylebone, London.
From 1788, special "token coins" were made in Barbados. These coins were not official money but were used for trade. Many people believe Sir Philip Gibbes was behind these coins, especially ones with a picture of Neptune.
Sir Philip Gibbes leased a house in London from 1798 until he died. As he got older, his health declined, and he lost his eyesight. He passed away on June 27, 1815, and was buried at St James Church, Barbados.
Sir Philip Gibbes's Writings
Sir Philip Gibbes was part of the Barbadian Society for the Improvement of Plantership. He was known for being a kind and humane gentleman.
He wrote several important works, including:
- Instructions for the Management of a Plantation in Barbadoes and for the Treatment of Negroes (London, 1786). This was a group effort, mostly written by Edward Drax.
- Instructions for the Treatment of Negroes (1786). A second edition came out in 1797. These books talked about how to manage plantations and treat enslaved people. They suggested rules for slavery instead of ending it.
- Letter to John Beckles, Esq., Attorney General at Barbadoes, and Correspondence between them on the subject of the Conveyance of the Kendal Plantation being Unfairly obtained (1802). This letter was about a land dispute.
He is also thought to have written an anonymous book called Reflections on the proclamation of the second of July 1783. This book was about trade between the United States and the West Indies.
Sir Philip Gibbes's Family
In 1753, Sir Philip Gibbes married Agnes Osborne at St James Church, Barbados. Agnes was the only child of another plantation owner, Samuel Osborne. Her family had come to Barbados from Kent, England, in 1634. Agnes passed away in London in 1813, before her husband.
Sir Philip and Lady Gibbes had four children, all born in Barbados. Lady Gibbes mostly raised them in England. Sir Philip focused on his business and political work. In the 1780s, Lady Gibbes and her daughters lived near Wolverhampton, England. John Wesley, a famous religious leader, visited them there in 1783. The children's governess, Mary Freeman, was a friend of Wesley.
Their oldest son, Philip, studied at Cambridge University and became a judge in Barbados. He was the Chief Justice of Barbados but was removed from his position in 1797 after a controversy. He married Maria Knipe in 1807 and died in 1812. Maria later married Sir John Palmer-Acland, 1st Baronet.
Their other children were:
- Samuel Osborne, who was a sugar planter and a Receiver-General in Grenada. He was the father of Samuel Osborne Gibbes, 2nd Baronet. Samuel Osborne died in 1807.
- Elizabeth, who married Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Colchester in 1797.
- Agnes, who never married.
Later in life, Sir Philip Gibbes became distant from his two sons. His daughter Elizabeth's marriage connected the Gibbes family to Jeremy Bentham, a famous philosopher.
