1739 - Jamaican Maroons Sign Peace Treaty with British

On June 1, 1739, the British colonial government in Jamaica signed a second treaty with the Leeward Maroons, descendants of Africans who had escaped slavery and formed independent communities in the island’s mountains. The treaty, while controversial, recognized Maroon autonomy in exchange for peace and their promise to return newly escaped slaves. This agreement was a rare acknowledgment of Black sovereignty by a European empire. Led by legendary leaders like Cudjoe and Nanny of the Maroons, these communities had successfully waged guerrilla warfare against British forces. The June 1 treaty helped preserve Maroon land rights and culture, elements that survive to this day. Though complicated by compromises, the treaty is a landmark in Black resistance diplomacy. It illustrates the strategic genius of African descendants in the Americas and remains a cornerstone in the study of maroonage, freedom, and negotiated power.