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Paul Bogle, it is believed, was born free about 1822. He was
a Baptist deacon in Stony Gut, a few miles north of Morant Bay, and a voter at a time when
there were only 104 in St Thomas. He was a firm political adherent of George William
Gordon.
Poverty and injustice in the society and lack of public
confidence in the central authority urged Bogle to lead a protest march to the Morant Bay
Court-house on October 11, 1865.
In a violent confrontation with official forces that followed
the march, nearly 500 people were killed and a greater number were flogged and punished
before order was restored.
Bogle was captured and hanged on October 24, 1865; but his
forceful demonstration achieved its objectives. It paved the way for the establishment of
just practices in the courts and it brought about a change in official attitude which made
possible the social and economic betterment of the people.
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