Cuffay, William

1788

1870

William Cuffay was the leading black figure in the Chartist movement in early Victorian London. Cuffay's father - Chatham Cuffay - was previously enslaved and worked as a cook aboard a British warship. Some believe that William was born on a merchant ship whilst other reports suggest he was born in Britain, in the Medway area of Kent. Cuffay worked as a tailor in Chatham and moved to London in 1819. He participated in the Tailor's Strike of 1834 and was consequently fired, a life event which shaped his political career. William Cuffay was a co-founder of the Metropolitan Tailor's Chartists Association (1839) and became a prominent and trusted leader in the National Chartists Association. During his political career, Cuffay experienced racism from press and others in politics. Cuffay was known to be a passionate and militant leader and - in 1848 - was accused of attempting to lead an armed uprising against Queen Victoria. He was exiled to Tasmania for 21 years and his wife Mary Ann joined him in 1853. Even after his pardoning in 1856, Cuffay remained in Australia and participated in labour movements and trade union organisations until his death in 1870.

'Cuffay' is thought to be the Anglicised version of the Akan name 'Kofi', given to those born on Fridays.