Bill Richmond
| Bill Richmond | |
|---|---|
1810 depiction of Richmond
|
|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | The Black Terror |
| Rated at | Welterweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
August 5, 1763 Cuckold's Town, New York |
| Died | December 28, 1829 (aged 66) London, England, UK |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 19 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Wins by KO | N/A |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Bill Richmond (August 5, 1763 – December 28, 1829) was an African-American boxer, born a slave in Richmondtown, Staten Island, New York. Although born in America, Richmond lived for the majority of his life in England, where all his boxing contests took place.
Richmond was born into slavery on Staten Island, New York. During the American Revolutionary War, Richmond's owner, the Reverend Richard Charlton, allowed Richmond to become a servant of Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, a lieutenant-general in the British Army. It is presumed that Richmond became a free man at that point. Percy took Richmond with him to England in 1777.
After arriving in England, Percy paid for Richmond's education, then apprenticed him to a cabinetmaker in York. In the early 1790s, Richmond married a local white English woman. Her name was probably Mary Dunwick, in a marriage recorded in Wakefield on 29 June 1791. Richmond and his wife had several children.
According to boxing writer Pierce Egan, the well-dressed, literate and self-confident Richmond was an target for race hatred in Yorkshire. Egan described several brawls involving Richmond because of insults. One brawl occurred after someone labeled Richmond a 'black devil' for being with a white woman—probably a reference to Richmond's wife.
According to Egan, Richmond fought and won five boxing matches in Yorkshire, defeating George 'Dockey' Moore, two unnamed soldiers, one unnamed blacksmith and Frank Myers.
By 1795, Richmond and his family had moved to London. He became an employee and household member of Thomas Pitt, 2nd Baron Camelford, a British peer and naval officer. A boxing enthusiast, Pitt may have received boxing and gymnastic instruction from Richmond. Pitt and Richmond visited several prize fights together.
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