What Did Paul Bogle Eat, and How Long Did He Live?

Question from Alkaycia, Jackson Town:

"What did Paul Bogle eat? How many decades and century did he live?"

Answer by Wellesley:

Hi Alkaycia, thanks so much for your lovely question. You know, it's always a joy when young minds like yours take an interest in our Jamaican heroes, especially someone as important as Paul Bogle.

So let’s talk about him. According to the records, Paul Bogle was born around 1820, and he died in 1865. That means he lived during the 1800s, which is the 19th century. In terms of how long he lived, he would’ve been about 45 years old when he passed, so he lived across a little over four decades.

Now about what he ate, not a lot was said about that but I would imagine that as a man of the people, and living in a rural farming village called Stony Gut, in St. Thomas, he would have also ate the food that most Jamaican people grew and cooked in those days—natural, healthy ground provisions like yam, green banana, cassava, dasheen, and breadfruit. He likely had saltfish too, and maybe local meats when they were available at the time.

Fruits like mango, guava, and maybe even guineps would’ve been part of his diet. And I'm pretty sure he drank lots of bush tea—things like cerasee, mint, or fever grass, just like our grandparents still do today.

Bogle wasn’t rich, but he had strong roots in the community and the church. He was a Baptist deacon and stood up for justice and fairness. That’s why he’s remembered as a national hero today, because he used his voice and his courage to fight for others, even when it cost him his life.

And the way he lived? That still inspires generations of Jamaicans, just like you right now.

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📅 Last updated: May 29, 2025

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