Jacob Williams: Afro-American who fought for Greek independence

Jacob Williams from Baltimore, USA, after living as a slave in sugarcane plantations, managed to escape and after boarding a ship, later participated in the US-Algerian pirate war in 1815.

He served as a Marine in the U.S. Navy. In this capacity he participated in the war between the United States and Algeria that took place in 1815. He fought bravely and distinguished himself in the battles. He served in Algeria under the command of U.S. Admiral Stephen Decatur, who had recognized his value and bravery. At the end of the operations in Algeria, and after completing his military service in the U.S. Navy, Admiral Decatur suggested that he go to Greece, where slavery had been abolished. He worked on the ship of a carpet merchant which sank and Williams washed up on a beach near Athens where he was rescued by monks.

Williams arrived in Greece in January 1827 and was appointed assistant to the British Philhellene Admiral Thomas Cochrane. Williams followed Cochrane everywhere, in all his military campaigns, until the latter left Greece in December 1827. Williams remained in Greece and took part in various battles and naval battles. In many cases, he secretly infiltrated the enemy ranks to collect and convey to the Greeks valuable information, risking his life. He participated in various battles and naval battles, in the siege of Messolonghi, having taken part in the Exodus, but also in the liberation of Athens.

During military operations to liberate Nafpaktos, Williams was seriously injured by cannon schrapnel in his arm and leg and was taken to the hospital in Poros. At a critical moment of the conflict, he led a group of Greek fighters and took control of the Greek ship Sotir (Savior), which was unmanned. In fact, he took over the helm himself, attracting enemy fire. This saved the boat from being captured.

This brave African-American Philhellene offered his life in the struggle of the Greeks. He died in 1829 in Greece, where he lived the last years of his life as a free man in a free Greece, while his tombstone is in the cemetery of St. John in Argos.
Williams is the only case of a slave who, after escaping, did not seek a quiet life, but dedicated himself to the struggle for the independence of another people.