A plaque honouring one of Britain’s first black schoolmasters has been put up in Lichfield.
Francis Barber was enslaved in Jamaica from birth and arrived in England in 1752 aged ten, before being granted his freedom two years later.
He lived in London as the servant, friend and – ultimately – heir to Samuel Johnson.
Francis moved to Lichfield in 1786, living in the city until the mid-1790s when he relocated to Burntwood and became one of Britain’s first black schoolmasters.
The blue plaque has been installed on Cruck House, one of the only surviving buildings from the time when he lived on Stowe Street.
Cllr Dave Robertson, leader of Lichfield City Council, said:
“There have been a lot of partner organisations involved in getting this plaque up to recognise one of Lichfield’s lesser known trailblazers.
“It’s brilliant to see it take pride of place near where Francis lived on Stowe Street.”
Cllr Dave Robertson, Lichfield City Council
