George William Gordon
Encyclopedia
George William Gordon, National Hero of Jamaica
(1820*-1865) was a Jamaica
n businessman and politician
. On the centenary of his death, he was proclaimed a National Hero of Jamaica
. Gordon was the 2nd of 7 children born to a white planter, Joseph Gordon (1790?–1867) and a mulatto slave, Ann Rattray (1792? – before 1865) in April 1815 although many accounts give his birth as 1820. Gordon became a businessman and a landowner in the parish of St Thomas-in-the-East. His siblings are Mary Ann Gordon (1813?), Margaret Gordon (1819?), Janet Isabella Gordon (1824?), John Gordon (1825?), Jane Gordon (1826?) and Ann Gordon (1828?) all born on the Cherry Gardens Estate.
As a member of the Jamaica Assembly, Gordon acquired a reputation as a critic of the colonial government, in particular, of Governor Edward John Eyre
in the mid-1860s. He maintained a correspondence with English evangelical critics of colonial policy. He also established his own Native Baptist church, of which Paul Bogle
was a deacon.
In October 1865, following the Morant Bay Rebellion
, Gordon was taken from Kingston, where martial law
was not in force, to Morant Bay, where it had been imposed. He was tried by court martial, without due process of law, sentenced to death, and executed. Gordon's death and the brutality of Eyre's suppression of the revolt made the affair a cause celèbre in Britain. John Stuart Mill
and other liberals sought unsuccessfully to have Eyre prosecuted.
In the aftermath of the labour rebellion of 1938, Gordon came to be seen as a precursor of Jamaican nationalism
. This was helped by the play George William Gordon by Roger Mais
, which compared Gordon's death to the sacrifice of Jesus
. In 1965, Gordon and Bogle were proclaimed National Heroes in a ceremony at Morant Bay
. When Jamaica decimalized its currency in 1969, Gordon appeared on the ten dollar note (now a coin).
The Parliament of Jamaica
meets in the Gordon House, built in 1960 and named in his memory.
George William Gordon is mentioned in the song "Innocent Blood" by the reggae
band Culture
as well as in the song "Silver Tongue Show" by Groundation
and "Prediction" and "Born Fe Rebel" by Steel Pulse
.
Order of National Hero (Jamaica)
The Order of National Hero is an honour awarded by the government of Jamaica. It is a part of the Jamaican honours system that has been in place since 1969.-Description:...
(1820*-1865) was a Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n businessman and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. On the centenary of his death, he was proclaimed a National Hero of Jamaica
Order of National Hero (Jamaica)
The Order of National Hero is an honour awarded by the government of Jamaica. It is a part of the Jamaican honours system that has been in place since 1969.-Description:...
. Gordon was the 2nd of 7 children born to a white planter, Joseph Gordon (1790?–1867) and a mulatto slave, Ann Rattray (1792? – before 1865) in April 1815 although many accounts give his birth as 1820. Gordon became a businessman and a landowner in the parish of St Thomas-in-the-East. His siblings are Mary Ann Gordon (1813?), Margaret Gordon (1819?), Janet Isabella Gordon (1824?), John Gordon (1825?), Jane Gordon (1826?) and Ann Gordon (1828?) all born on the Cherry Gardens Estate.
As a member of the Jamaica Assembly, Gordon acquired a reputation as a critic of the colonial government, in particular, of Governor Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre
Edward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
in the mid-1860s. He maintained a correspondence with English evangelical critics of colonial policy. He also established his own Native Baptist church, of which Paul Bogle
Paul Bogle
Paul Bogle was a Jamaican Baptist deacon and is a National Hero of Jamaica. He was a leader of the 1865 Morant Bay Protests, which agitated for justice and fair treatment for all in Jamaica. Leading the Morant Bay rebellion, he was captured and hanged on October 24,1865 in the Morant Bay Court...
was a deacon.
In October 1865, following the Morant Bay Rebellion
Morant Bay rebellion
The Morant Bay rebellion began on October 11, 1865, when Paul Bogle led 200 to 300 black men and women into the town of Morant Bay, parish of St. Thomas in the East, Jamaica. The rebellion and its aftermath were a major turning point in Jamaica's history, and also generated a significant political...
, Gordon was taken from Kingston, where martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
was not in force, to Morant Bay, where it had been imposed. He was tried by court martial, without due process of law, sentenced to death, and executed. Gordon's death and the brutality of Eyre's suppression of the revolt made the affair a cause celèbre in Britain. John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant. An influential contributor to social theory, political theory, and political economy, his conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of...
and other liberals sought unsuccessfully to have Eyre prosecuted.
In the aftermath of the labour rebellion of 1938, Gordon came to be seen as a precursor of Jamaican nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
. This was helped by the play George William Gordon by Roger Mais
Roger Mais
Roger Mais was a Jamaican journalist, novelist, poet, and playwright. He was born to a middle-class family in Kingston, Jamaica. By 1951, Mais had won ten first prizes in West Indian literary competitions...
, which compared Gordon's death to the sacrifice of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. In 1965, Gordon and Bogle were proclaimed National Heroes in a ceremony at Morant Bay
Morant Bay
Morant Bay is a town in southeastern Jamaica. It is the capital of the parish of St. Thomas. In 1867 it was the starting point of the Morant Bay Rebellion, the only major peasant revolt , in Jamaican history...
. When Jamaica decimalized its currency in 1969, Gordon appeared on the ten dollar note (now a coin).
The Parliament of Jamaica
Parliament of Jamaica
The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It is a bicameral body, composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives....
meets in the Gordon House, built in 1960 and named in his memory.
George William Gordon is mentioned in the song "Innocent Blood" by the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band Culture
Culture (band)
Culture was a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples.The members of the trio were Joseph Hill , Albert Walker and Kenneth Dayes ....
as well as in the song "Silver Tongue Show" by Groundation
Groundation
Groundation is an American roots reggae band with jazz and dub influences from Sonoma County in Northern California.-History:Formed in the fall of 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Marcus Urani, and Ryan Newman, Groundation began on the campus of Sonoma State University's Jazz Program...
and "Prediction" and "Born Fe Rebel" by Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
.