London Socialist Historians Group
Media Release
18th July
Contact Dr Keith Flett 07803 167266
Historians welcome long overdue plaque to black Chartist leader William Cuffay
The London Socialist Historians Group, which organises the socialist history seminar at the Institute of Historica Research, University of London has welcomed the long overdue plaque to black Chartist leader William Cuffay, at Chatham Dockyard.
Cuffay (1788-1870) was the son of an ex-slave who came to the Medway Towns as a sailor on a British Navy ship and married a local woman. He moved to London and worked as a tailor. He became a trade unionist and in the 1840s a leading Chartist. He was the organiser of the Chartist rally for the vote at Kennington Common on Monday 10th April 1848.
Long standing efforts to erect a plaque for Cuffay in London have been frustrated.
The historians say that the Chatham plaque, whose erection was delayed from 2020, is due to the campaigning work of Medway African and Caribbean Association, Medway Trades Council and Medway Labour Party.
London Socialist Historians Group convenor Dr Keith Flett said, the long overdue plaque to William Cuffay is welcome. He is an important figure in the long struggle for democracy. It’s a pity that Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has so far ignored calls for a London plaque despite consistently saying he supports more memorials.
Leave a Reply