Allan Glaisyer Minns
Encyclopedia
Dr Allan Glaisyer Minns was the first Black man to become a mayor in Britain. He was elected Mayor of Thetford
, Norfolk
in 1904.
John Archer
, elected Mayor of Battersea
in 1913, had been thought to be the first Black man to hold this title. However, in reporting Archer's election, the American Negro Year Book 1914 (founded by Monroe Work
) recorded that "In 1904 Mr Allen Glaisyer Minns, a col’d
man from West Indies, was elected Mayor of borough of Thetford, Norfolk". He had been elected to the town council
of Thetford in 1903 and served a two-year term as mayor from 1904.
The following extract is from Norfolk & Suffolk In East Anglia, Contemporary Biographies, W.T. Pike (1911):
Dr Minns was registered with the British Medical Association on 14 February 1884. His qualifications were MRCS
(1881), and LRCP (1884). He was based in Thetford from 1885 until 1923, when he moved to Dorking
where he died.
He was one of nine children of John Minns (1811 - 1863) and Ophelia (née Bunch, 1817 - 1902). His paternal grandfather, also John Minns, had emigrated circa 1801 from England to the Bahamas where he married Rosette, a former African slave.
His eldest brother Dr Pembroke Minns (1840 - 1912) was already in medical practice in Thetford when he moved there.
He was twice married; first to Emily Pearson in 1888 and secondly to Gertrude Ann Morton in 1896. He had children by both wives.
Thetford
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
in 1904.
John Archer
John Archer (British politician)
John Richard Archer was a British race and political activist. In November 1906, he and Henry Sylvester-Williams became among the first people of African descent to be elected to public office in Britain, with Archer becoming a councillor and later Mayor in Battersea.Archer was born to Richard...
, elected Mayor of Battersea
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea
Battersea was a civil parish and metropolitan borough in the County of London, England. In 1965 the borough was abolished and its area combined with parts of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth to form the London Borough of Wandsworth...
in 1913, had been thought to be the first Black man to hold this title. However, in reporting Archer's election, the American Negro Year Book 1914 (founded by Monroe Work
Monroe Work
Monroe Nathan Work , was a sociologist who founded the Department of Records and Research at the Tuskegee Institute in 1908 and expanded its national reputation. With much of his career he strove to advance credibility to the anti-lynching campaigns and the Negro Health Week movement...
) recorded that "In 1904 Mr Allen Glaisyer Minns, a col’d
Colored
Colored is a term once widely used in the United States to describe black people and Native Americans...
man from West Indies, was elected Mayor of borough of Thetford, Norfolk". He had been elected to the town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
of Thetford in 1903 and served a two-year term as mayor from 1904.
The following extract is from Norfolk & Suffolk In East Anglia, Contemporary Biographies, W.T. Pike (1911):
- "Minns – Allan Glaisyer Minns, Alexandra House, Thetford; youngest son of the late John Minns; born at InaguaInaguaInagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point...
, Bahamas, October 19th 1858. Educated at NassauNassau, BahamasNassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
Grammar School and Guy's HospitalGuy's HospitalGuy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
London. M.R.C.S.Membership of the Royal College of SurgeonsMRCS is a professional qualification for surgeons in the UK and IrelandIt means Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In the United Kingdom, doctors who gain this qualification traditionally no longer use the title 'Dr' but start to use the title 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or 'Ms'.There are 4 surgical...
Eng; Lond. Medical Officer Thetford Workhouse & Thetford District of Thetford UnionPoor Law UnionA Poor Law Union was a unit used for local government in the United Kingdom from the 19th century. The administration of the Poor Law was the responsibility of parishes, which varied wildly in their size, populations, financial resources, rateable values and requirements...
, Hon. Medical Officer Thetford Cottage HospitalCottage HospitalThe original concept of a cottage hospital was a small rural hospital having up to 25 beds. One advantage of such a hospital in villages was the familiarity the local physician might have with their patient that may affect their treatment...
. Member of the British M.A.British Medical AssociationThe British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
& Norwich Medico Chirurgical Society; President of Horticultural Society; Mayor of Thetford 1904-05-06."
Dr Minns was registered with the British Medical Association on 14 February 1884. His qualifications were MRCS
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons
MRCS is a professional qualification for surgeons in the UK and IrelandIt means Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In the United Kingdom, doctors who gain this qualification traditionally no longer use the title 'Dr' but start to use the title 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or 'Ms'.There are 4 surgical...
(1881), and LRCP (1884). He was based in Thetford from 1885 until 1923, when he moved to Dorking
Dorking
Dorking is a historic market town at the foot of the North Downs approximately south of London, in Surrey, England.- History and development :...
where he died.
He was one of nine children of John Minns (1811 - 1863) and Ophelia (née Bunch, 1817 - 1902). His paternal grandfather, also John Minns, had emigrated circa 1801 from England to the Bahamas where he married Rosette, a former African slave.
His eldest brother Dr Pembroke Minns (1840 - 1912) was already in medical practice in Thetford when he moved there.
He was twice married; first to Emily Pearson in 1888 and secondly to Gertrude Ann Morton in 1896. He had children by both wives.