David Hamilton Jackson (1884–1946) was one of the most influential figures in the history of the Virgin Islands. Born on St. Croix during Danish colonial rule, he became a teacher, editor, lawyer, and tireless advocate for civil rights, workers’ welfare, and freedom of the press.

In an era of heavy-handed colonial governance and widespread inequality, Jackson emerged as a bold voice for the Crucian people. He challenged Danish rule not with weapons, but with words and legal reform. In 1915, after traveling to Denmark to appeal directly to the King, Jackson secured the right to publish a newspaper free of colonial censorship. He returned to St. Croix and founded The Herald, the first Black-owned and freely operated newspaper in the territory. The paper became a powerful platform for exposing injustice, promoting literacy, and advocating for the rights of the working class.

Jackson also played a central role in the formation of the first labor union in the Danish West Indies, the St. Croix Labor Union, established in 1913. Through this organization, he helped to mobilize sugar plantation workers, demand better wages and conditions, and organize collective action.

He was an early proponent of transferring the Virgin Islands from Danish to American control, believing that U.S. citizenship would bring greater opportunity and civil rights. This goal was realized in 1917, when the islands were officially purchased by the United States.

David Hamilton Jackson’s legacy lives on in the Virgin Islands. November 1st, the date of The Herald’s first publication, is celebrated as Liberty Day or David Hamilton Jackson Day—a public holiday honoring his fearless contributions to freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

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“There can be no progress without liberty.” – David Hamilton Jackson