John Archer - Mayor

John Archer was born in Liverpool on the 8th June 1863, his father was from Barbados and his mother was Irish. He worked as a seaman for many years, travelling to America, Canada, Africa, and the West Indies, though eventually settled in Battersea, South London in the UK. Archer ran a photography studio on Battersea Park Road with his wife Bertha, a Black Canadian.

Archer's political career took off in 1906 when he was elected as a Progressive (Liberal-aligned) councillor for Battersea Borough Council. He championed workers’ rights, affordable healthcare, and racial equality, and he also stood firmly against Britain’s colonial policies and spoke up for the rights of colonised people.

In 1913, John Archer made history when he was elected Mayor of Battersea - becoming the first Black man to be elected as Mayor in London. However, the campaign to his election had been tinged by racist overtones and his victory, although celebrated, also received backlash.

During his acceptance speech Archer said -

“I am proud to be a man of colour. I do not stand here as a coloured man. I stand here as a man".

Archer supported Pan-Africanism and anti-imperialist movements. In 1918 he chaired the Pan-African Congress in London and later became the president of the African Progress Union, whose aims were to improve education and political representation for Black people in Britain and the colonies

John Archer passed away on the 14th July 1932.

“I am proud to be a man of colour. I do not stand here as a coloured man. I stand here as a man".

John Archer 1913