Joseph Gordon recognised that his son George William was a gifted child, so he gave him school books from which the boy taught himself to read and write. At the age of 10, George William was sent to live with his godfather, James Daley, in Black River. Young Gordon completed his education in Black River.

George William Gordon was quick-witted, handsome and a great orator. He took part in religious debates from an early age. Though brought up as an Anglican, Gordon joined the Presbyterians, was baptised by the Baptists, and soon set about organising his own church.

Gordon’s absorption with religion never waned. He started an independent Baptist organisation and erected a tabernacle in Kingston, the Kingston Tabernacle, where he often preached. Gordon helped his followers open chapels in the country-side. He ordained deacons, Paul Bogle of Stony Gut being one of them.

Gordon’s public life began in 1844. He entered politics as an advocate of the poverty-stricken Negro peasants. This displeased many of his coloured, middle-class counterparts. He was elected to the Kingston Common Council and more than once deputised as mayor. Gordon concentrated on buying and leasing lands which he cut up and sold or sublet cheaply to the negro peasants who, at the time, had great difficulty obtaining land.

By 1865, the social and economic crisis in Jamaica had reached dangerous proportions. The harshness and insensitivity of the Governor, Edward Eyre, did nothing to relieve the mounting tensions. From his seat in the Assembly, Gordon spoke out on behalf of the poor negroes and bitterly criticised Governor Eyre.

At a meeting in Gordon’s King­ston Tabernacle on May 3, 1865, his followers resolved to cooper­ate for the purpose of settling their grievances.

More meetings followed and a petition was sent to Queen Victoria in England. The Queen replied in what is now known as the “Queen’s Letter”, in which she recommended, “hard work and industry” and said that the people could not expect “schemes of government to better their condition.”

After the Queen’s reply, Gordon held a meeting which had been advertised by placard, in St. Thomas. Governor Eyre declared the placard to be seditious.

Around this time, Paul Bogle had begun his series of protests in St. Thomas, but although a close acquaintance of Bogle, Gordon did not have any control over his activities.

When Bogle and a crowd of his supporters walked the 45 miles from Stony Gut to Spanish Town to petition the Governor, Gordon was ill in Kingston.

Of the “Morant Bay Uprising” in which the Custos Baron Von Ketelhodt and 15 vestry men were killed, Governor Eyre said, “all this has come of Mr. Gordon's agitation”. Lewis Quier Bowerbank, as chief of the Kingston Magistracy, urged the Governor to deal with Gordon harshly. A warrant was issued for Gordon’s arrest.

On hearing of the warrant, Gordon went to Headquarters House, the building where the legislature held meetings, and was arrested. On board the HMS Wolverene on October 21, he was court-martialled and sentenced to death, Gordon was hanged with 18 others on October 23, 1865.

Jamaica has sought to honour George William Gordon in many ways. The highest honour, that of National Hero, was bestowed on him posthumously, and the present seat of the legislature, Gordon House, is named after him. A bust of Gordon forms part of the national Shrine to the Heroes of 1865, located at the National Heroes Park in Kingston. George William Gordon's picture appears on the Jamaica 10 dollar bill.

George William Gordon