Iceland’s first black citizen
Hans Jónatan (1784-1827) was born into
slavery in St. Croix. His enslavers moved him and his mother to Denmark when he was a child because the plantation business was not going well. At the age of 17 Hans joins the Danish Navy and fought valiantly in the Battle of Copenhagen. Frederick, the Danish Crown Prince at the time, recognized him for his bravery and efforts by granting him freedom. However, his enslaver argued in court that Hans was still property and won! Hans was understandably upset so he hid away on a boat leaving the country. He ended up in a small East Iceland town called Djupivogur. He was accepted into society, worked, married and had children. It’s said that he has over 900 descendants in the country. A monument in his honor called “Freedom” was erected in Djupivogur.
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