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Gabriel Prosser (ca. 1775- 1800), born in Henrico County, Virginia, was an African-American slave who, in 1800, planned an uprising of 1100 Africans in Richmond, Virginia.He was the slave of Thomas H. Prosser, but little else is known about his history. On August 30, 1800, Gabriel led 1100 slaves to carry out the planned the rebellion. The rain, however, postponed the rebellion. The slaves' masters, however, had suspcion of the revolt, and before it could be carried out the following night, they notified James Monroe, who in turn sent the state militia. Gabriel and 34 of his followers were hanged.
This potential slave uprising was notable not because of its actual impact — the rebellion was quelled before it could begin — but because of the potential for mass chaos. Southern slave-owners became fearful of another slave rebellion. Gabriel had been able to plan the rebellion so well because of relatively lax rules of movement between plantations; as a result, many owners greatly restricted the slaves' rights of travel when not working. The fear of a slave revolt would persist until the abolition of slavery in the 1860s.
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Prosser, Gabriel
Prosser, Gabriel
