Biography

Born on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village, Henry Francis Downing was a member of a prominent African American family of New York City. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War, Henry Downing traveled the world, stopping in the West African country of Liberia for several years. After returning to New York, he became involved in local politics. In 1886, he was appointed U.S. Consul to Loanda, Angola, in Portuguese East Africa, where he served until his resignation in 1888. He would later move to Great Britain, where he would serve as a commercial agent representing Liberian businessmen and for European merchants interested in African markets. Downing became involved in Pan-African activities (he would eventually support Marcus Garvey and his "Back to Africa" movement) and began a prolific output of writings, including nine plays, two novels, a number of essays and short stories and several works on Liberia.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jane Margaret Laight