Black Women in Georgian Britain

It’s Black History Month in the UK and I wanted to write a piece that focused on black women in eighteenth-century Britain. If you want some general facts about Black Georgians, check out this post.

It’s been quite difficult to find information about black women in Georgian Britain, and this article took me longer to research than I planned. When I finally came across the research by a former student at University College London, Montaz Marche, it suddenly made sense why the histories of black women in Georgian Britain are hard to locate.

First, Marche explains historical records tend to demarcate black people as “black” or “negro”, making black individuals invisible. Second, Marche also suggests that black women protected themselves by assimilating the social and religious customs of Britain to assure their social, financial, and physical safety, rather than being ousted from communities for being “outsiders”. This means that Black women in Georgian Britain blend into the background, unless they, or those close to them, caused a scandal that got them noticed.

But do not be fooled into thinking black women in Georgian Britain were merely slaves or servants. Unlike the British colonies, in Britain, the legal ambiguity regarding race and slavery meant that black women could reap the benefits of freedom as British citizens and were an important part of the social landscape. Black women married, had children, and built secure lives alongside their neighbours. They were not outsiders; they were British.

While I wanted to provide more general insight into the lives of black women in eighteenth-century Britain, I have unfortunately been limited to a few who stood out.

Catherine Despard (? – 1815)

While gentlemen had relationships with black women, usually through force or exploitation, it was rare that they married.

However, Colonel Edward Despard—war hero, revolutionary, and advocate for racial equality—fell in love with, and married, the former slave, Catherine, before moving to London. His radical politics led him to be arrested several times, and Catherine fought tirelessly for his release. However, he was eventually accused of treason and Catherine again fought for his release, asking Lord Nelson to stand as a character witness. Unfortunately, he was found guilty in 1803 and became the last man in Britain to be hung, drawn, and quartered.

Mary Prince (1788-1833)

Mary was born into enslavement in Bermuda. Her owners brought her to London in 1828, but she escaped and lobbied for the abolition of slavery.

In 1831, her account of the brutal treatment she and others endured while enslaved, The History of Mary Prince, became the first published account of enslavement by a black woman.

Harriott Lewis (?-c.1778)

Also known as Black Harriott, Harriott Lewis was born in New Guinea and worked on the plantation of Captain William Lewis.

In 1766, the Captain brought her to London as his mistress but died, leaving her alone. Her new protector, the Earl of Sandwich, helped her to open a brothel in King’s Place and she prospered, taking on many illustrious and prominent clients.

That was, until her servants robbed her in 1778. She never recovered financially and died in debtor’s prison soon after her incarceration.

Dido Elizabeth Belle (1761-1804)

Dido is probably the most famous black woman from the eighteenth century and the illegitimate daughter of a naval officer, Sir John Lindsay, and a black woman, Maria Bell.

Lindsay left Dido to be raised by her great-uncle, the Earl of Mansfield and Lord Chief Justice, who presided over several court cases that examined the legality of the slave trade.

It was very unusual at the time for a mixed-race child to be raised as part of an aristocratic family. Dido was educated alongside her cousin, Elizabeth Murray. She received an allowance and an annuity following her uncle’s death. Dido married an estate steward, John Davinier.

Her portrait, alongside her cousin, is displayed at Scone Palace in Scotland.