Born c1788
Brackish Pond, Bermuda (British Colony)
Death date unknown

West Indian slave of African descent

The publication in England in 1831 of The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave, Related by Herself caused quite a stir. The story of Mary Prince's life as a slave in the West Indian colony of Bermuda was widely read by the general public and lawmakers alike at a time when the country was fiercely debating the abolition of slavery in the British colonies. Mary Prince's History was especially shocking as it was the first time that a British female slave's life story was published, complete with tales of murder, torture, sexual abuse, and general mistreatment of slaves.

"This is slavery," Mary Prince declared at the end of History. "I tell it to let English people know the truth; and I hope they will never leave off to pray God, and call loud to the great King of...