Revolutionary Priest: Pascal Mardel of Grenada

Fédon’s Rebellion in Grenada (1795–96) was the most spectacular antislavery, anticolonial, proto-nationalist struggle in the British Caribbean during the “Age of Revolution” (1770–1830). Although most published works cite the Roman Catholic-Protestant rivalry as a major underlying cause of the rebellion, the relationship of its religious leadership to the uprising has been neglected. This article discusses the role of Pascal Mardel, the only known Roman Catholic clergyman to take active part in the rebellion led by Julien Fédon and face execution for his activities.