Pugilist prince

Peter Jackson (18601901), also known as “The Black Prince”, was a heavyweight bareknuckle boxer who fought internationally. Born on the island of Saint Croix in the West Indies, he emigrated to Australia where he became the 1886 Australian heavyweight champion. He was celebrated as the “Coloured Champion of the World” when he beat 28 of the best boxers from England and America between 1888 and 1892. In 1889 he beat reigning champion Jem Smith at the Pelican Club in Soho, London.

He never fought a world championship because the American John Sullivan refused to defend his title against a black man and James J Corbett, also an American, avoided him after Corbett won the title.

Jackson wasn’t able to get any fights after 1892. He starred in a touring production of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1893, based on the popular novel of the same title, becoming only the second black man to play the role of Uncle Tom. Jackson is buried in Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane, Australia. On his grave is written “This was a man”, a quote from Julius Caesar. Jackson is said to have often quoted from Shakespeare. — Source: themissingchapter.co.uk

Archive/Getty Images, courtesy of Hulton Archive and Autograph ABP, London Pictures: Hulton Peter Jackson in London in 1889, photographed by the London Stereoscopic Company.