Gabriel's Rebellion: Largest Slave Conspiracy in Virginia History Crushed

Gabriel, an enslaved blacksmith owned by Thomas Prosser near Richmond, Virginia, organized a sophisticated conspiracy in 1800 involving an estimated 500–1,000 enslaved people. The plan called for marching on Richmond, seizing the state arsenal, and taking Governor James Monroe hostage to force emancipation. Gabriel modeled himself on George Washington and the language of the Revolution. On August 30, two enslaved informers named Pharoah and Tom revealed the plot; a torrential rainstorm also delayed the march. Gabriel was captured in Norfolk, tried, and hanged on October 10, 1800, along with 26 co-conspirators. Virginia and other Southern states immediately tightened restrictions on enslaved people's movement, assembly, and hiring-out.