Background
Paul Bogle in 1822 in Saint Thomas.
Paul Bogle in 1822 in Saint Thomas.
Probably bom a free man, he became a lay preacher in the Native Baptist Church and a peasant proprietor. He was listed as one of only 104 voters in the parish of St. Thomas. In the 1850s he became associated with George William Gordon, a wealthy coloured planter who was a member of the Legislative Assembly.
During the 1860s economic conditions in the country were deteriorating. As the peasant population’s grievances grew, Bogle was selected to present their problems to the governor, who refused to receive him. Bogle began to organize small armed groups which met secretly in the hills. On October 7, 1865, they marched into Morant Bay and disrupted a court case against a black peasant. Policemen attempting to make arrests were beaten back, and Bogle and his followers fled. Three days later police attempting to arrest those involved were overpowered by peasants in the village of Stony Gut where Bogle lived.
On October 11. Bogle and 400 followers, armed with sticks and a few guns, marched on the Morant Bay courthouse which was protected by members of the colony’s militia. After a verbal confrontation between the Custos (chief parish official) and the demonstrators and some throwing of stones, the militia was ordered to open fire. The demonstrators moved in, killing some militiamen and forcing the rest into the courthouse which was set ablaze. Over 28 persons were killed, including the Custos, and 30 were wounded. Martial law was declared, resulting in the execution of nearly 500 persons, the flogging of over 500, and the destruction of more than 1,000 homes. Bogle was finally captured on October 22 and was summarily executed two days later.
Bogle was named a national hero of Jamaica in 1965.
