This is the grave of John Archer who was elected as Battersea Mayor in 1913 becoming the first ever black Mayor of a London Borough. Tha grave has been restored in June 2024 as part of the celebration of the 130th anniversary of BWTUC.
When he was elected John Archer said, "My election tonight means a new era. You have made history tonight. For the first time in the history of the English nation a man of colour has been elected as mayor of an English borough. That will go forth to the coloured nations of the world and they will look to Battersea and say Battersea has done many things in the past, but the greatest thing it has done has been to show that it has no racial prejudice and that it recognises a man for the work he has done."
John Richard Archer (8 June 1863 – 14 July 1932) was a British politician and political activist. He was a notable Pan-African and the founding president of the African Progress Union. As a historically important figure he has a school, a housing block and a street in Battersea named after him.
Archer was born in Liverpool, Lancashire to Richard Archer, from Barbados Mary Theresa Burns, from Ireland. For years he travelled the world as a seaman, living for periods in the US and Canada. He married Bertha, a black Canadian and in the 1890s, returned with her to England, settling in Battersea while in his thirties. He started to study medicine but supported himself by a small photographic studio.
Archer became involved in local politics; he was a supporter of the radical socialist and trades union leader friendly with London radicals. In 1906 he was elected as a labour movement candidate to Battersea Borough Council for Latchmere ward. Archer successfully campaigned for a minimum wage of 32 shillings a week for council workers but lost his seat in 1909; he was re-elected in 1912.
In 1913, Archer was nominated for the position of mayor (at that time a position implying that he was the political leader of the Battersea council, rather than the ceremonial role common in England from the 1920s). There were negative and racist aspects to the campaign, with allegations that he did not have British nationality. He won by 40 votes to 39 among his fellow councillors, and gave a notable victory speech:
Archer moved to the left during his years in Battersea and in 1919 was re-elected to the council as a Labour representative. In 1918 he had been elected as the first president of the African Progress Union working for "advanced African ideas in liberal education". In 1919 he was a British delegate to the Pan-African Congress in Paris and two years later, chaired the Pan-African Congress in London.
In 1922, Archer gave up his council seat to act as Labour Party election agent for Shapurji Saklatvala, a Communist Party activist standing for parliament in North Battersea He convinced the Labour Party to endorse Saklatvala, who was duly elected – one of the first Indian MPs in Britain. He and Saklatvala continued to work together, winning again in 1924 until the Communist and Labour parties split fully. In the 1929 general election Archer was agent for the official Labour candidate, who beat Saklatvala.
Archer served as a governor of Battersea Polytechnic, president of the Nine Elms Swimming Club, chair of the Whitley Council Staff Committee, and a member of the Wandsworth Board of Guardians.
He was again elected in 1931, for the Nine Elms ward. At the time of his death in 1932, he was deputy leader of Battersea Council. He died on 14 July 1932, a few weeks after his 69th birthday. His funeral was held at the Church of Our Lady of Carmel in Battersea Park Road on 19 July. He is buried in this council cemetery at Morden.
Archer had been thought to be the first Black man to be elected as a mayor in Britain. But, the American Negro Year Book 1914, in reporting Archer's election, also reported that
"In 1904, Mr. Allen Glaser Minns a black man from the West Indies, was elected mayor of the borough of Thetford, Norfolk."
You can park next to grave but if you do this please observe the need to drive very slowly. There is also a car park in the grounds if you want to enjoy the rest of this peaceful area.
You are looking for a bison. Usually it is actual on the grave itself by the direct of the Merton Cemetaries. Please help yourself to a badge.
This cache has been placed with the kind permission of Merton Cemetaries. The cemetary is open from 8am to 5 pm.daily.