John Archer

Catalogue Reference:(WM) LDWAN/LH 1

John Archer was the son of a West Indian father and an Irish mother. He came to Wandsworth in south London from Liverpool in about 1890 to study and eventually set up a photography business there. He was active in local politics and had the distinction of becoming Britain's first Black mayor when he was elected in 1913 as Mayor of Battersea. Throughout his life, he was committed to the struggles of the African peoples making a memorable speech in 1918 which emphasised the contribution made by people from Britain's colonies to the First World War.