Gabriel Prosser, (1776), a blacksmith, planned a large rebellion in the Summer of 1800, someone leaked the information. Gabriel and twenty-five of his followers were captured and hanged. This caused Virginia to pass restrictions for blacks, prohibited the education, assembly and hiring of slaves with the intent to impede learning and rebellions.
In 2002 the City of Richmond passed a resolution in honor of Gabriel on the 202nd anniversary of the rebellion. In 2007 Governor Tim Kaine gave Gabriel and his followers an informal pardon, in recognition that his cause, “the end of slavery and the furtherance of equality for all people—has prevailed in the light of history”.
