1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,000 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class. It's a production of I 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hi, I'm Eves and welcome to This Day 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: in History Class, a show that uncovers history one day 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: at a time. Today is September. The day was September. 5 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: Boxer Peter Black Prince Jackson won the Australian Heavyweight boxing Championship, 6 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: becoming the first black man to win a national boxing crown. 7 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: Peter was born on July three, eighteen sixty one, and 8 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: Christians did St. Croix, Virgin Islands. His grandfather was freed 9 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: from slavery under a planter whose last name was Jackson. 10 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: His father, also named Peter Jackson, was a warehouseman. He 11 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: was educated up to a primary level, but soon left 12 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: to work at see When he was young, he moved 13 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: to Australia, settling in Sydney around eighteen eighty. He worked 14 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: on the waterfront and in hotels. While in Australia, he 15 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: learned to fight under the instruction of Larry Foley, a 16 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: successful Australian middleweight championship boxer. Between eighteen eighty three and 17 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: eighteen eighty six, Jackson fought seven times. One of those 18 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: times he fought with bare knuckles, and he only lost 19 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 1: to Bill Farnum in eighteen eighty four. On September eighteen 20 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: eighty six, Jackson defeated Australian boxer Tom Lee's by total 21 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: knockout in the thirtieth round. That fight won him the 22 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: heavyweight championship of Australia. At six ft one and a 23 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: half inches or a hundred and eighty seven centimeters and 24 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: a hundred ninety pounds or eighty six kilograms, Jackson was big, fast, 25 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: and he had a good reach out of worthy opponents 26 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: and seeking more money, jack And left Australia and headed 27 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: to the United States. In Britain, he ended up in 28 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 1: San Francisco in eighteen eighty eight, associating himself with the 29 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: California Athletic Club and teaching boxing. After winning a few 30 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: fights and building his reputation there, he headed to New York, 31 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: taking on fights and exhibitions along the way. From there 32 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: he went to England. From eighteen eighty eight to eighteen 33 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: nine two. He fought twenty eight men and did not 34 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: lose any of his fights, though he did come close 35 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: in his eight round draw in Melbourne in October of 36 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: eighteen ninety against Joe Goddard, another notable fight was his 37 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: bout with James J. Corbett in May of eighteen ninety 38 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: one in San Francisco, which was a sixty one round 39 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: four hour draw. Jackson really had his sight set on 40 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: fighting the Boston strong Boy, John L. Sullivan, an Irish 41 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: American boxer who was a highly paid and well known 42 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: heavyweight champion, but Sullivan refused to fight Jackson, a black man, 43 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: because of the color line. Jackson was successful despite racism 44 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: and discrimination. He was a celebrated boxer and respected athlete, 45 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: and he achieved some fame. He was allowed in the 46 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: National Sporting Club rooms in London, but racism did show 47 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: up even in his praise. He was called Peter the 48 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: Great and the Black Prince, and he was uplifted for 49 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: being a gentleman and modest, contrary to white perceptions of 50 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: black people. He had a quote respectable character. As his 51 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: boxing career came to a close, he dealt with depression, 52 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: drank and spent money without discussion. His health declined and 53 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: he developed tuberculosis. He continued teaching boxing, managed a pub, 54 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: boxed exhibitions, and was an actor on a touring production 55 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: of Uncle Tom's Cabin In Jackson lost his first fight 56 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: in fourteen years to Jim Jeffries. The next here, Jackson 57 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: lost his fight against Jim Jeffords in Vancouver, the last 58 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: fight of his career. At the same time, his health 59 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: was declining. In July of nineteen o one, Jackson died 60 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: of tuberculosis. He was buried at the Brisbane General Cemetery. 61 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: Less than a decade later, Jack Johnson became the first 62 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: black world heavyweight champion. I'm Eve Jeff Coote and hopefully 63 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: you know a little more about history today than you 64 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: did yesterday. You can learn more about history by following 65 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at t d i 66 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 1: HD podcast. Thanks for showing up. We'll meet here again tomorrow. 67 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I Heeart Radio, visit the iHeart 68 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 69 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: favorite shows.