caption death_date death_place religion birth_place citizenship children other_names nationality birth_date known_for spouse image article_title name partner occupation
c 1860s , london 7 february 1912 freetown , sierra leone christianity , and later islam st us virgin islands -rrb- thomas , danish west indies -lrb- now the danish west indies pay ` ton blyden eddy , ed creole , americo-liberian 3 august 1832 `` father of pan-africanism '' liberian ambassador and politician sarah yates blyden e w 3c35638r.jpg edward wilmot blyden
 edward wilmot blyden anna erskine educator , writer , diplomat , politician
edward wilmot blyden

edward wilmot blyden -lrb- 3 august 1832 -- 7 february 1912 -rrb- , the father of pan-africanism ; was an educator , writer , diplomat , and politician primarily in liberia .
born in the west indies , he joined the free black immigrants to the region from the united states ; he also taught for five years in the british west african colony of sierra leone in the early 20th century .
his writings on pan-africanism were influential in both colonies , which were started during the slavery years for the resettlement of free blacks from the united states and great britain .
his writings attracted attention in the sponsoring countries as well .
he felt that zionism was a model for what he called ethiopianism , and that african americans could return to africa and redeem it .
later he supported islam .
blyden was recognised in his youth for his talents and drive ; he was educated and mentored by john knox , an american protestant minister in st thomas , danish west indies , who encouraged him to continue his education in the united states .
blyden was refused admission in 1850 to three northern theological seminaries because of his race .
knox encouraged him to go to liberia , the colony set up for freedmen by the american colonization society ; blyden emigrated that year , in 1850 , and made his career and life there .
he married into a prominent family and soon started working as a journalist .
