Ninian Home

Ninian Home (1732 c. 6 April 1795) was a British colonial administrator and planter who served as the governor of Grenada during Fédon's rebellion, a revolt against British rule led primarily by free mixed-race French-speakers that took place between 2 March 1795, and 19 June 1796. Home was captured and held hostage during the rebellion and was eventually executed (“murdered” was the term used by the British).

Biography Ninian Home was born in 1732 in Scotland and made his fortune from his plantations in Grenada which enabled him to purchase Paxton House, Berwickshire from his uncle, Patrick Home, in 1773.

Home was sent to Virginia as a young man to earn his living. He first went to Grenada in 1756, where he would later spend most of his career. From 1764 Home spent much of his time in Grenada where he owned two plantations (after taking about an immense mortgage on the plots) which were manned by over 400 enslaved people growing coffee, cocoa and sugar. He owned the Waltham Estate in the parish of St Mark from 1780 as well as Paraclete in the parish of St Andrew. The hostages had been placed in a makeshift prison, before being placed in stocks inside the prison. During the attack on Belvedere the prisoners were returned to the makeshift prison whilst the battle ensued. John Hay (one of the only surviving hostages) noted that he heard someone shout in French “The prisoners are to be shot!”, as the guards readied their muskets. The prisoners were let out and Hay begged for mercy, however Fédon did not agree and continued the executions. Fédon gave the order to fire himself, staring on at the executions along with his wife and daughters. Some of the prisoners were not quite dead after being shot, and so Fédon ordered the “Saloperie” (the “dirty bastards”) to be finished off using bayonets and cutlass, which the soldiers carried out.

Ninian's brother, George Home of Wedderburn, succeeded to his Scottish and Grenadian estates upon his death.