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Richmond Unchained: The Biography of the World's First Black Sporting Superstar
Today Bill Richmond is largely unknown to the wider public, but he was one of the most significant sportsmen in history and one of the most prominent celebrities of Georgian times. Born into slavery in Staten Island, Richmond won his freedom as a young boy and carved a new life for himself in England as a cabinet maker and then a renowned prizefighter and trainer. His amazing life encompassed encounters and relationships with some of the most prominent men of the age, including Earl Percy, William Hazlitt, Lord Byron, the Prince Regent and Lord Camelford. His fame was such that he fulfilled an official role at the coronation celebrations of King George IV in 1821.The story of Bill Richmond is an incredible tale of personal advancement, as well as the story of a life informed and influenced by a series of turbulent historical events, including the American War of Independence, the fight for black emancipation and Britain’s long-running conflict with Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Richmond Unchained: The Biography of the World's First Black Sporting Superstar
Today Bill Richmond is largely unknown to the wider public, but he was one of the most significant sportsmen in history and one of the most prominent celebrities of Georgian times. Born into slavery in Staten Island, Richmond won his freedom as a young boy and carved a new life for himself in England as a cabinet maker and then a renowned prizefighter and trainer. His amazing life encompassed encounters and relationships with some of the most prominent men of the age, including Earl Percy, William Hazlitt, Lord Byron, the Prince Regent and Lord Camelford. His fame was such that he fulfilled an official role at the coronation celebrations of King George IV in 1821.The story of Bill Richmond is an incredible tale of personal advancement, as well as the story of a life informed and influenced by a series of turbulent historical events, including the American War of Independence, the fight for black emancipation and Britain’s long-running conflict with Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Richmond Unchained: The Biography of the World's First Black Sporting Superstar

Richmond Unchained: The Biography of the World's First Black Sporting Superstar

by Luke G. Williams
Richmond Unchained: The Biography of the World's First Black Sporting Superstar

Richmond Unchained: The Biography of the World's First Black Sporting Superstar

by Luke G. Williams

Overview

Today Bill Richmond is largely unknown to the wider public, but he was one of the most significant sportsmen in history and one of the most prominent celebrities of Georgian times. Born into slavery in Staten Island, Richmond won his freedom as a young boy and carved a new life for himself in England as a cabinet maker and then a renowned prizefighter and trainer. His amazing life encompassed encounters and relationships with some of the most prominent men of the age, including Earl Percy, William Hazlitt, Lord Byron, the Prince Regent and Lord Camelford. His fame was such that he fulfilled an official role at the coronation celebrations of King George IV in 1821.The story of Bill Richmond is an incredible tale of personal advancement, as well as the story of a life informed and influenced by a series of turbulent historical events, including the American War of Independence, the fight for black emancipation and Britain’s long-running conflict with Napoleon Bonaparte.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781445644899
Publisher: Amberley Publishing
Publication date: 08/15/2015
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 264
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Luke G. Williams has been a journalist and writer for 15 years. He co-wrote Masters of the Baize (Mainstream Publishing, 2005), which examined the careers of world snooker champions. On publication the book received highly favourable reviews, being named ‘Book of the Week’ by both The Sunday Times and The Independent newspapers. Masters of the Baize was re-printed, revised and updated in 2006. Luke has also worked as a full-time staff writer for uefa.com, sportal.com and euro2000.com, while his freelance work has been published in various outlets including The Guardian, Sunday Express, Snooker Scene and 007 Magazine. He has appeared on BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Radio London among many others. Luke maintains the boxing blog boxianajournal.blogspot.co.uk and has many contacts in the worlds of journalism, boxing and sports media.

Table of Contents

Author's Note 6

Prologue: The Coronation of George IV, Westminster, London, 19 July 1821 7

1 The Strange Mystery of Bill Richmond's Birth 15

2 'Humanity Adorns All His Actions' 21

3 An Education and 'a Complete Milling' 33

4 Black Britain and Bill's Better Half 41

5 'A Turbulent, Rakehelly, Demented Existence' 51

6 Richmond Is 'Dared to the Field' 61

7 Exit Camelford, Enter Cribb 71

8 'The Crowd Were Very Clamorous Against the Black' 81

9 Bitter Tears for Bill 89

10 'The Dexterity of His Coup de Main' 97

11 'Native Valour' 107

12 The Molineaux Myth 117

13 Molineaux 'Threatens to Mill the Whole Race of Fighters' 129

14 England's Anxiety 137

15 'Old England For Ever' 145

16 'The Antipathy Against a Man of Colour' 159

17 'Here Goes the Champion of England' 169

18 Richmond's Ruin 177

19 Richmond Reborn 189

20 Richmond Retires 199

21 Richmond's Crowning Glory 209

22 'The Joys of the Days That Are Gone' 219

23 'You All Lov'd Richmond Once' 231

Epilogue: St Martin's Parish Workhouse, Castle Street, London, 1 March 1858 239

Bill Richmond Ring Chronology 245

Acknowledgements 246

Notes 248

Bibliography 254

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