George William Gordon was born to an enslaved African woman and a Scottish father who owned several plantations, including Cherry Garden Estate, St Andrew. His freedom from slavery was bought by his father. Gordon became a wealthy businessman, a real estate and farm produce dealer and a devout Baptist.
His passion for social justice and land reform led him to be elected the first black man in the Jamaica House of Assembly in 1844. Assisted by Paul Bogle, Gordon secured a second victory in his election to the Assembly in 1863, representing the parish of St Thomas-in-the-East. Gerdon bought and subdivided estate lands in St Thomas-in-the-East and sold or leased lots so that the recently freed slaves could own lands.
As a political representative post-emancipation, he took a radical stance in advocating against the social injustices and unjust living conditions meted out to the landless peasantry and denounced the leadership of Governor John Eyre.
Eyre arrested Gordon in Kingston, and he was convicted for his alleged involvement in the Morant Bay Rebellion, which Bogle organised and led in St Thomas-in-the-East. He was taken to Morant Bay, where he received an unlawful trial and was hanged on October 23rd, 1865.
Famous Quote:
"It is, however, the will of my Heavenly Father that I should suffer in obeying His command to relieve the poor and needy and to protect, as far as I was able, the oppressed."
Gordon was conferred with the Order of National Hero in 1969 for his role as defender of the people in the struggle for social justice and land rights.
