Henry Francis Downing (c. 1846 – February 19, 1928)
African-American sailor, politician, dramatist and novelist. His cousin was Hilary R. W. Johnson, the first African-born president of Liberia (1884–92).[2]
Biography
Henry Francis Downing was born in New York City and named for his father Henry. His paternal grandfather was noted caterer and oyster seller Thomas Downing. Among Downing's uncles was noted caterer and abolitionist George T. Downing, who ran successful businesses in New York, Newport, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC.
In 1864 Downing joined the
US Civil War, Downing started on a journey around the world, and reached the American colony of Liberia, where he lived for three years.[1] On his return to the US in 1872, he again enlisted in the navy, serving until 1875.[1]
In 1887,
Comte de Paris.[3] In early 1891, Judge William H. Amoux, Chairman of the Committee of 200 Pan-Republican Congress, appointed Downing, along with other prominent men, to the Committee of Plan and Scope.[4]
The next month, Downing became one of the first African Americans to dine with
Topeka and George P. H. McVay of Harlem, editor of the Uptown Press, at the College Street Chapel for a discussion.[9]
In 1895, Downing traveled with his wife to London. They chose to stay and lived there for 22 years.[2] He was a participant in the First Pan-African Conference there in 1900.
While in London, Downing concentrated on creative writing, publishing several plays and a novel,
Ira Frederick Aldridge, who developed a career in performing Shakespeare in London and Europe.[11] Downing was "probably the first person of African descent to have a play of his or her own written and published in Britain."[12]
Returning to the US in 1917, Downing lived in New York City during his final years. He died on February 19, 1928, at the
