Born 8 June 1863
Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Died 14 July 1932 (aged 69)
Battersea, London, United Kingdom
Nationality British Occupation(s) Photographer, Politician Known for Mayor of Battersea and Pan-Africanism
London's first black mayor John Richard Archer honoured with Royal Mail stamps
A former Battersea Mayor became the first Afro-Caribbean to hold any civic office in London and was honoured 2013 in a set of special edition Royal Mail stamps.
The Royal Mail's 'Great Britons' stamps collection is a set of 10 1st Class stamps which includes people in sport, journalism, music, politics and the arts with significant anniversaries.
Archer was born in Liverpool, Lancashire to Richard Archer, from Barbados, and Mary Theresa Burns, from Ireland. For years he travelled the world as a seaman, living for periods in the US and Canada. He married Bertha, a Black Canadian, and in the 1890s, returned with her to England, settling in Battersea while in his thirties. He started to study medicine but supported himself by a small photographic studio.
Archer became involved in local politics; he was a supporter of the radical Liberal John Burns and friendly with London radicals. In 1906 he was elected as a Progressive (Liberal) to Battersea Borough Council for Latchmere ward; at the same time, West Indian Henry Sylvester Williams won in Marylebone. Archer successfully campaigned for a minimum wage of 32 shillings a week for council workers but lost his seat in 1909; he was re-elected in 1912.
In 1913, Archer was nominated for the position of mayor (at that time a position implying that he was the political leader of the Battersea council, rather than the ceremonial role common in England from the 1920s). There were negative and racist aspects to the campaign, with allegations that he did not have British nationality. He won by 40 votes to 39 among his fellow councillors, and gave a notable victory speech:
"My election tonight means a new era. You have made history tonight. For the first time in the history of the English nation a man of colour has been elected as mayor of an English borough. "That will go forth to the coloured nations of the world and they will look to Battersea and say Battersea has done many things in the past, but the greatest thing it has done has been to show that it has no racial prejudice and that it recognises a man for the work he has done."Archer in his mayoral robes, published in The Crisis, March 1914
His success was reported in the US journal The Crisis in January 1914. It was published by the recently formed National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP).
Archer moved to the left during his years in Battersea and in 1919 was re-elected to the council as a Labour representative. In 1918 he had been elected as the first president of the African Progress Union, working for "advanced African ideas in liberal education". In 1919 he was a British delegate to the Pan-African Congress in Paris and two years later, chaired the Pan-African Congress in London.
In 1922, Archer gave up his council seat to act as Labour Party election agent for Shapurji Saklatvala, a Communist Party activist standing for parliament in North Battersea. He convinced the Labour Party to endorse Saklatvala, who was duly elected – one of the first Indian MPs in Britain. He and Saklatvala continued to work together, winning again in1924 until the Communist and Labour parties split fully. In the1929 general election, Archer was agent for the official Labour candidate, who beat Saklatvala.
Archer served as a governor of Battersea Polytechnic, president of the Nine Elms Swimming Club, chair of the Whitley Council Staff Committee, and a member of the Wandsworth Board of Guardians.
He was again elected in 1931, for the Nine Elms ward. At the time of his death in 1932, he was deputy leader of Battersea Council. He died on 14 July 1932, a few weeks after his 69th birthday. His funeral was held at the Church of Our Lady of Carmel in Battersea Park Road on 19 July. He was buried in the council cemetery at Morden.
FYI Archer had been thought to be the first Black man to be elected as a mayor in Britain. But the American Negro Yearbook 1914, in reporting Archer's election, also reported that - In 1904, Mr. Allen Glaser Minns, a coloured man from the West Indies, was elected mayor of the borough of Thetford, Norfolk.
This maquette, a mini model of John Archer, British Politician and MP created by Vincent Gray is on show in Battersea Arts Centre.
John Archer was the first Black mayor of a London borough, namely Battersea.
Vincent Gray MAcert MRSS Civic Medal hopes the maquette will be realised at life size in bronze and sited in Battersea at some point for the borough proudly host and the communities and visitors to visit, view and enjoy.
Interesting facts: Vincent Gray worked briefly with the late Barbadian Artist Karl Broodhagen
He has previously worked closely with international artist Yinka Shonibare in the production of fibreglass sculptures both classical and traditional over a period decade.
Recent Works -- NEWS STORY 2025 Completion of the 'WAS' sculpture of the West African Squadron that currently waiting to secure a host site for memorial to be homed and exhibited for public viewing.
Also visit -
West Africa Squadron Memorial information website
Vincent's views and outlook has been shaped by array of diverse human contacts and interactions, including bonding with people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds over many decades. These social connections not only built memorable sculptures, but built strength by diversify and investing through partnerships and collaborations with a variety of individuals, communities, groups and organisations. Such wide-ranging connections has successfully developed and built solid longstanding trusted relationships with artists nationwide.
Creating spaces for a diverse array of interactions both professionally and personally has helped Vincent lay strong foundations that's added to the landscape of his humanity for humankind enriching an all-round life experience where he conveys through his art, to share, educate, to show and tell, so many may learn from his creations. An awareness of, that in turn helps sow the seeds for people unity.
Vincent Grays' maquette is on show in Battersea Arts Centre of John Archer MP for Wandsworth
Royal Society of Sculptors
..::Vincent Gray Contact-Information::..
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