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Radio Merseyside,12 Oct 2026,3 mins

John Richard Archer: A Mayor Who Made History

Hidden Merseyside

Available for over a year

Born in Liverpool in 1863 to a Barbadian father and Irish mother, John Richard Archer went on to make British political history. From working at sea to becoming a photographer and political activist, Archer challenged racial prejudice at a time when Black people faced significant discrimination. In 1913, he became London's first Black mayor after winning the vote to lead Battersea Borough Council by just one vote. Discover the remarkable story of a pioneering Black Liverpudlian who helped break barriers in British politics more than a century ago.

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