Henry Francis Downing

Henry Francis Downing (c. 1846 – 19 February 1928) was an African-American sailor, politician, dramatist and novelist. His cousin was Hilary R. W. Johnson, the first African-born president of Liberia (1884–92).

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, 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. 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. By then, Downing had become the editor of the Brooklyn Messenger. On 4 November 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. Downing was inspired by the life of American actor Ira Frederick Aldridge, 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 19 February 1928, at the Harlem Hospital.

Legacy Black filmmaker Oscar Micheaux based two films on Downing's literary work. Micheaux's Thirty Years Later (1928) is based on a story/novella by Downing, and the film A Daughter of the Congo (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)