Born Welbeck Street. An unusual childhood: his father changed their name from Beach to create a fictional connection with the medieval Barons De la Beche of Aldworth. Inheriting a slave plantation he took the family to Jamaica in 1800 but died the next year. Henry and his mother were shipwrecked on their return to England. Henry entered a military college but was thrown out for encouraging revolt amongst the cadets.
Geologist. Had a long public and furious debate with Murchison concerning fossils in Devon, in which Murchison called him a "dirty dog". Founder of the British Geological Survey.
Died London.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Henry De la Beche
Commemorated ati
Other Subjects
Zachary Macaulay
Anti-slavery campaigner. Born Scotland. Aged 16 emigrated to Jamaica and saw slavery first hand as a slave overseer on a sugar plantation. Returned to England 1789. Sister Jean’s husband, Thomas Ba...
Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Africa, Jamaica, Scotland
Black Plaque Project
An extension of the Nubian Jak Community Trust plaque scheme. It recognises black people / people of colour who were prominent in British history. The plaques are temporary, but it is planned to co...
Thomas Jefferson
American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States 1801-9. During his lifetime he owned over 600 slaves. For a...
Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, USA
George Alexander Gratton
Born on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in 1808 to slave parents. Born with vitiligo, also known as piebaldism he was, as a baby, put on show in the capital, Kingstown. Aged 15 months he was ta...
Samuel Morley
Born Well Street Hackney into a Nottingham family of wool/hosiery manufacturers and merchants. His father John, had come to London to set up an outlet for their products. Samuel went into the famil...
Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Religion
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them