Pilot Darrell's Square
St. George Bermuda
Born in 1749, James Darrell was one of the most respected black pilots of Bermuda. But he was a slave. In 1789, he was one of the three slave pilots who was chosen for the work that led to the discovery of Narrows Channel in Bermuda and the Murray's Anchorage.
In 1795, when British Admiral George Murray visited Bermuda, James Darrell was chosen to pilot his ship HMS Resolution and take it through the Narrows Channel to Murray's Anchorage in St. George.
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The channel was full of treacherous reefs, but Darrell guided the ship safely with his great navigational skill. Admiral Murray was so impressed that he recommended the slave be granted freedom. In 1796, James Darrell became free and was the first documented black man to own a house in Bermuda.
Pilot Darrell's House, Bermuda
Photo: James Willamor, flickr, cc by-sa 2.0
Darrell purchased a house on Silk Alley, in St. George's. This house is also known as Hermit's Court. The area where his house is located, has been named after him as Pilot Darrell's Square. Admiral Murray later formed the King's Pilots and Darrell was one of the first to be appointed. Pilot Darrell died in 1815 at the age of 64. His descendants still live in the house.
Photo: James Willamor, flickr, cc by-sa 2.0
Location
Silk Alley, St. George's
Bus Routes: #1, 3, 10, 11 (operate between Hamilton City and St George)
About the Author
By Raj Bhattacharya
Raj has been writing about Bermuda since 2008, when he launched bermuda-attractions.com, one of the longest-standing independent guides to the island. A Certified Bermuda Specialist (Bermuda Tourism Authority), his work draws on personal visits, local contacts in Bermuda, and questions and trip reports from thousands of readers over the years.
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