Biography of our national heroes

Home / Historical Figures / Biography of our national heroes

The story of any nation's heroes is one of strength and sacrifice, bravery and courage, and the triumph of will. They became known as Maroons.

So here is a quick, mini breakdown of our national heroes and how they contributed to our today.

Sharpe came up with an idea of passive resistance and communicated this message to slaves after prayer meetings on different estates.

Our national heroes are more than just figures in our history books, they are symbols of courage, justice, and resilience.

For example, the Treaty of 1739/40 mentions granting "Nanny and the people residing with her 500 acres of land in Portland." In 1735 the slave, Cupid, reported seeing "three white men that were taken in some of these parties carried to Nanny Town and there put to death by Nanny." Her name and influence are cornerstones of Maroon oral tradition.

Although said to be small and wiry she is recognized as a champion of freedom, a female warrior who promoted guerrilla warfare tactics against her British foes.

sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'.

Some say she is sister to other great Maroon leaders � Cudjoe, Accompong, Cuffy, Quao and Paro.

The order of National Hero of Jamaica was created in 1965.

In 1914 he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) which grew into an international organization that still exists in Jamaica, the United States, and a number of other countries.

Marcus Garvey was a Black Nationalist and politician, and though he never won a seat in the Jamaica Legislature (1920s), he never faltered as a spokes person for the poor and oppressed.

He is buried at National Heroes Park. One credits her with creating a "nanny pot", a cauldron of water that boiled without fire and trapped unsuspecting British soldiers � enemies of her people the Maroons. In 1517, when the Spanish ruled Jamaica, the first group of Africans arrived as slaves. The first heroes named were Sir Alexander Bustamante and Sir Norman Manley, the founders of the JLP and the PNP respectively, men who served as architects of independent Jamaica.

Soon multiple fires broke out and all thoughts of non-violence fled. Some believe the name Maroon comes from the Spanish word, 'cimarron' meaning 'wild.'

Although there is some dispute as to whether Nanny actually existed or whether she stands as a composite of Maroon female leaders, references to a leader "Nanny" are recorded in contemporary eye-witness accounts of 18th century Jamaican history and in secondary material.

She is also immortalized as a high priestess with great powers.

I spilled the beans!

Alexander Bustamante

Alexander Bustamante founded the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) in 1938 and was also founder of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Great houses and cane fields in the west were burned and hundreds of lives were lost. They, in more ways than one, fought the greatest of fights for us, did the groundwork and blessed us with the rich, triumphant history that we have today.

Numerous legends swirl about her. He is buried at National Heroes Park.

Coming October 29: The series explores the parishes of Jamaica, then and now.

Feedback To the Series

"I have found your articles on the Pieces of the Past most entertaining and interesting to read.