Henry Sylvester-Williams, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Henry Sylvester-Williams

Trinidadian politician, lawyer and writer

Date of Birth: 15-Feb-1869

Place of Birth: Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago

Date of Death: 26-Mar-1911

Profession: writer, lawyer, politician, historian, barrister

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Henry Sylvester Williams (24 March 1867 or 15 February 1869 – 26 March 1911) was a Trinidadian lawyer, councillor and writer, most noted for his involvement in the Pan-African Movement.
As a young man he went to North America to further his education, and subsequently to Britain, where in 1897 he formed the African Association to challenge paternalism, racism and imperialism; the association aimed to "promote and protect the interests of all subjects claiming African descent, wholly or in part, in British colonies and other place, especially Africa, by circulating accurate information on all subjects affecting their rights and privileges as subjects of the British Empire, by direct appeals to the Imperial and local Governments." In 1900 Williams organised the First Pan-African Conference, held at Westminster Town Hall in London.
In 1903 he went to practise as a barrister in South Africa, becoming the first black man to be called to the bar in the Cape Colony.