Henry Francis Downing (1846 – February 19, 1928)Jessica Salo
"Downing, Henry Francis (1846-1928)"
BlackPast.org was an African-American sailor, politician, dramatist and novelist. His cousin was

Hilary R. W. Johnson Hilary Richard Wright Johnson (June 1, 1837 – 1901) served as the 11th president of Liberia from 1884 to 1892. He was elected four times. He was the first Liberian president to be born in Africa. He had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (Li ...

, the first African-born president of

Liberia Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...

(1884–92). Jeffrey Green
"125: Henry F. Downing, African American author in London 1895-1917"
Post Card.

Biography

Henry Francis Downing was born in New York City and named for his father Henry. His paternal grandfather was noted caterer and oyster seller Thomas Downing. Among Downing's uncles was noted caterer and abolitionist

George T. Downing George T. Downing (December 30, 1819 – July 21, 1903) was an abolitionist and activist for African-American civil rights while building a successful career as a restaurateur in New York City; Newport, Rhode Island; and Washington, D.C. His fath ...

, who ran successful businesses in New York, Newport, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC. In 1864 Downing joined the U.S. Navy at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. According to BlackPast.org, "Navy records listed him as having deserted in 1865, though it was later revealed he left the ship to attend his stepfather’s funeral, and his mother had obtained his discharge so that he could assist her". After the US Civil War, Downing started on a journey around the world, and reached the American colony of

, where he lived for three years. On his return to the US in 1872, he again enlisted in the navy, serving until 1875. In 1887, Grover Cleveland appointed Downing as consul to Luanda, Angola, but he resigned in 1888. In late 1890, he led the

African Americans African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

of New York City to tender to the

Comte de Paris Count of Paris () was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. After Hugh Capet was elected King of France in 987, the title merged into the crown and fell into disuse. However, it was later revived by the ...

. In early 1891, Judge William H. Amoux, Chairman of the Committee of 200 Pan-Republican Congress, appointed Downing, along with other prominent men, to the Committee of Plan and Scope. The next month, Downing became one of the first African Americans to dine with Reform Democrats. In June 1892, Downing, a lifelong Democrat, joined other African Americans at the Democratic headquarters. They believed they had to look for alternative alliances than the Republican Party. Meanwhile, he sued Sils and Son, the proprietors of a Brooklyn restaurant, for $10,000 over the spread of

cholera Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...

. By then, Downing had become the editor of the ''Brooklyn Messenger''. On November 4, 1892, the newspaper editor joined C. Holliday of Topeka and George P. H. McVay of Harlem, editor of the ''Uptown Press'', at the College Street Chapel for a discussion. In 1895, Downing traveled with his wife to London. They chose to stay and lived there for 22 years. He was a participant in the First Pan-African Conference there in 1900. While in London, Downing concentrated on creative writing, publishing several plays and a novel, '' The American Cavalryman: A Liberian Romance'' (1917). Downing was inspired by the life of American actor

Ira Frederick Aldridge Ira Frederick Aldridge (July 24, 1807 – August 7, 1867) was an American-born British actor, playwright, and theatre manager, known for his portrayal of Shakespearean characters. James Hewlett and Aldridge are regarded as the first Black Ameri ...

, who developed a career in performing Shakespeare in London and Europe. Downing was "probably the first person of African descent to have a play of his or her own written and published in Britain." Returning to the US in 1917, Downing lived in New York City during his final years. He died on February 19, 1928, at the Harlem Hospital.

Legacy

Black filmmaker

Oscar Micheaux Oscar Devereaux Micheaux (; January 2, 1884 – March 25, 1951) was an author, film director and independent producer of more than 44 films. Although the short-lived Lincoln Motion Picture Company was the first movie company owned and controlled ...

based two films on Downing's literary work. Micheaux's ''

Thirty Years Later ''Thirty Years Later'', is a 1928 American black and white silent drama film directed and produced by Oscar Micheaux for Micheaux Films. ''Thirty Years Later'' film was based on Henry Francis Downing Henry Francis Downing (1846 – February 19 ...

'' (1928) is based on a story/novella by Downing, and the film ''

A Daughter of the Congo ''A Daughter of the Congo'' is a 1930 race film directed, written and produced by Oscar Micheaux. The film is loosely based on the novel ''The American Cavalryman'' (1917), by African-American novelist and playwright Henry Francis Downing. It is ...

'' (1930) is based on Downing's ''The American Cavalryman''.

Plays

* '' The Shuttlecock; or Israel in Russia: An Original Drama in Four Acts'' (1913) * '' Human Nature, or The Traduced Wife: An Original English Domestic Drama, in Four Acts'' (1913) * '' The Arabian Lovers: Or the Sacred Jar; an Eastern Tale in Four Acts'' (1913) * '' Placing Paul's Play; A Miniature Comedy'' (1913) * '' Lord Eldred's Other Daughter: An Original Comedy in Four Acts'' (1913) * '' Incentives: A Drama in Four Acts'' (1914) * '' A New Coon in Town: A Farcical Comedy Made in England'' (1914) * '' Voodoo: A Drama in Four Acts'' (1914)

References

External links

BlackPast.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downing, Henry F. 1846 births 1928 deaths African-American dramatists and playwrights American dramatists and playwrights 20th-century African-American people