Joshua Steele

Joshua Steele ( – 1796) was an Irish planter and writer.

Life Born in Ireland, he resided many years in London. In 1756, he was elected a member of the Society of Arts.

Steele possessed estates in Barbados: Chester's, Hallett's and Kendal's. He went in 1780 to manage them himself. In 1781 he founded a society in Bridgetown similar to the London Society of Arts, in order to change the treatment of the slave population, and soon after that became a member of the council for the island. On his own estates he abolished arbitrary punishment, and created courts among the black slaves themselves for the punishment of offences. He also promoted voluntary labour by offering some wages.