Prince Hall, a pioneering African American abolitionist and founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry, died in Boston on this day in 1807. Born in the British West Indies, Hall migrated to Boston as a young man and became a tireless advocate for Black rights, education, and civic engagement.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Hall enlisted in the Medford militia and later used his influence to petition the Massachusetts legislature for the abolition of slavery and equal rights for Black citizens. In 1775, Hall and 14 other free Black men were initiated into Freemasonry by a British army lodge, laying the foundation for African Lodge No. 459, the first Black Masonic lodge in the United States.

Prince Hall’s legacy continues to inspire through Prince Hall Freemasonry, which remains a cornerstone of African American community leadership and social progress.