In the 19th century, a man of mixed heritage defied the odds, amassed a fortune from the rugged frontiers of South America, and etched his name in Jamaica’s history. That man was George Stiebel (c.1821–1896) — a trader, investor, and visionary entrepreneur, remembered today as Jamaica’s first Black millionaire. But behind the wealth lies a layered story of privilege, resilience, ambition, and legacy — one that still captivates Jamaicans and historians alike.
Born of Two Worlds: George Stiebel’s Early Life
George Stiebel’s life was shaped by his unique parentage. His father, Sigismund Ascher Stiebel, was a German-Jewish merchant and trader who had roots in Frankfurt’s mid-tier banking circles. Seeking opportunities under British colonial rule, Sigismund migrated to Jamaica, where he partnered with Eliza Catherine Bailey, a Jamaican woman of African and European descent.
George was born into this Afro-European union around 1821 in Kingston, Jamaica. While romanticized tales often portray him as a self-made man rising from poverty, the truth reveals that George’s success was firmly anchored in family wealth and connections. At just 20 years old, his father bought him a ship — a symbol of immense privilege in a slave-colonial society still stratified by race and class. It was an extraordinary gesture, especially considering that many Afro-Jamaicans were still shackled by post-emancipation poverty and systemic inequality.
From Kingston to the Gold Mines of South America
After leaving school at age 14, young George took humble jobs as a carpenter’s apprentice and later as a worker at the Ferry Inn between Kingston and Spanish Town. But by his early twenties, he had moved into the shipping business, operating sea routes between North and South America. In time, his work turned to more high-risk, high-reward ventures — including arms dealing in Cuba. His involvement in the weapons trade saw him imprisoned briefly, but it marked a turning point in his bold, enterprising journey.
The most fabled part of his story came with the discovery of gold in Venezuela. Alongside three other Black men, Stiebel invested in a gold mine. While his partners sold their shares prematurely, Stiebel held firm. His patience paid off — the mine reportedly generated £80,000 a month (a staggering sum at the time), and when it was capitalized years later, its worth was estimated at $16 million.
By the time he returned to Jamaica in 1873, he was an extraordinarily wealthy man — and he was just getting started.
Empire of Property: 99 Estates and Counting
Stiebel began acquiring real estate on a grand scale, purchasing 99 properties across Jamaica. His holdings included sugar plantations, cattle pens, a wharf on Church Street, and extensive tracts like Great Salt Pond and Minard Pen in St. Ann’s Bay. He understood the power of land ownership — not only as an investment but as a symbol of status and permanence in a society where Black success was often transient or erased.
In 1879, Stiebel made his most iconic purchase: Devon Pen, a former Anglican church estate in Kingston. On this land, he built a grand mansion in 1881 — the now-famous Devon House.
Devon House: Symbol of Triumph
Devon House was no ordinary residence. It was a palatial, neoclassical mansion constructed at a time when Black Jamaicans rarely had access to elite social spaces, let alone the architectural grandeur of Georgian colonial design. The mansion blended Caribbean and European styles, showcasing fine Jamaican mahogany, intricate fretwork, and imported European furniture.
Devon House soon became a centerpiece of what was called “Millionaire’s Corner”, where Stiebel and two other wealthy Jamaican men built lavish homes. His home stood as a physical declaration of Black excellence, success, and cultural pride.
Devon House’s location at the intersection of Hope Road and Trafalgar Road would later become a prominent part of Kingston’s urban identity — but in Stiebel’s time, it was an act of quiet rebellion and upward mobility.
Family, Loss, and Final Days
In 1851, George Stiebel married Magdalene Baker, the daughter of a Christian missionary. The couple had two children — Sigismund and Theresa. Tragedy, however, loomed over his personal life. His son died young in 1871, and in the 1890s, he suffered the loss of both his grandson Douglas Jackson and son-in-law Richard Hill Jackson within a single week — both dying at Devon House.
George himself passed away on June 29, 1896, at the age of 75. He died alone at Devon House; his daughter and grandchildren, who were in England at the time, could not attend his funeral. His death was witnessed only by Theophilus Beanswell.
Despite the quiet end to his life, George Stiebel left behind a thunderous legacy.
Legacy: More Than a Mansion
George Stiebel’s impact is not just etched in stone — it lives in the fabric of Jamaican identity. Though historians rightly debate whether he was truly the first Black Jamaican millionaire, what is undisputed is the symbolic power of his life and his home.
In 1990, under the leadership of Prime Minister Edward Seaga, Devon House was declared a national monument. Today, it stands not only as a museum and tourist attraction, but also as a living monument to Black ambition and success. Families picnic on its manicured lawns, children laugh while eating world-famous Devon House ice cream, and tourists marvel at the architecture once dreamed up by a Jamaican of African descent who rose to the top in a colonial society designed to keep men like him down.
A bust of George Stiebel now adorns the grounds of Devon House, unveiled with these words from a government minister:
“This bust is symbolic of what all Jamaicans can achieve if they put their minds to it.”
Conclusion: The Man Who Built a Legacy
George Stiebel’s life challenges simple narratives. He was not merely a rags-to-riches hero — he was a complex figure shaped by privilege, business acumen, and courage. He navigated colonial hierarchies, seized global opportunities, and left behind a mansion that still whispers his name over a century later.
In remembering George Stiebel, we remember that Black success did not begin with independence, and that ambition, when met with opportunity, can change not just one life — but the legacy of a nation.
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