D. Hamilton Jackson

David Hamilton Jackson (September 28, 1884 – May 30, 1946) was a labor rights advocate in the Danish West Indies, later the United States Virgin Islands. Jackson was an important figure in the struggle for increased civil rights and workers' rights on the islands. He petitioned for freedom of the press, and organized the St. Croix Labor Union. Following the transfer of the territory to American control in 1917, he lobbied for US citizenship for the islanders.

Biography David Hamilton Jackson was born on September 28, 1884 in Estate East Hill, Christiansted, Saint Croix. His father was a schoolteacher and his mother was a free black from British Antigua. He became in various local reform movements starting in 1902. thumb Jackson's bust in Grove Place.Jackson began writing contributions to the local white-owned newspaper West End News in 1915. After writing a number of articles critical of governor general L. C. Helweg-Larsen, police captain N. C. M. Fuglede, and administrative director H. O. Schmiegelow, he was banned from the West End News.

Jackson used the newspaper to help establish the St. Croix Labor Union in 1915. He married Theolinda Pentheny in 1916. He studied at La Salle Extension University and the Hamilton College of Law in 1920 before attending the University of Indiana Indianapolis, where he received a law degree, passed the bar and became an attorney of criminal law in 1921. During the initial American occupation, he served on the Colonial Council from 1923 to 1926. He was a judge on the Municipal Court of St. Croix from 1931 to 1941. He served on the Municipal Council from 1941 to 1946. He died on May 30, 1946.

A residential community in Christiansted has been named in his honor. He is also honored in the Grove Place settlement across from a baobab tree.