Sir Thomas Modyford

Sir Thomas Modyford was a Barbados plantation owner who served as Governor of Jamaica.

Thomas was born into an aristocratic English family that emigrated from England to Barbados in 1647 during the beginning of the English Civil War. As a wealthy land owner, Modyford soon got involved in local politics and quickly rose through the ranks to become Speaker of the House of Assembly during the reign of Charles II. He was also a factor for the Royal Adventurers, a company that had a monopoly in the slave trade on the island.

In 1664 Modyford was appointed Governor of Jamaica in order to create a plantation driven economy on the island. He arrived on Jamaica in the company of seven hundred plantation owners and their slaves. Through the Royal Adventurers Company he imported slaves on the island. He also got a license to ship convicts from England to assist with its construction. Around 2,800 of these laborers arrived on the island during his governorship.

Due to his corrupt practices in the governance of Port Royal, at the time known as the pirate nest he was removed from his post in 1670 and imprisoned in London Tower. Eventually, he was acquitted of charges and he returned to Jamaica.