Historian Pedro Welch dies

Details on his death were not immediately available.

A retired professor at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, Dr Welch made significant impacts in education and research. He served as the Deputy Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, demonstrating his leadership abilities in higher education. His academic expertise focused on the history of medicine, the history of chattel slavery, and the Jewish diaspora in the New World.

Dr Welch’s scholarly work was widely recognized, with numerous publications to his name. His 2003 book “Slave Society in the City: Bridgetown, Barbados, 1680-1834” stands as one of his most cited works, reflecting his deep understanding of Caribbean history and society. He also contributed significantly to the study of gender in Caribbean history, authoring works such as “‘Red’ and Black over White: Free Coloured Women in Pre-Emancipation Barbados” in 2000.

Beyond academia, Dr Welch was actively involved in public service. He served on several public boards and committees in Barbados and chaired the Task Force on Reparations. He also served as editor of the Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS).

Dr Welch’s expertise was sought after internationally. In 2021, he was invited to deliver the Annual Churches Emancipation Lecture, where he spoke on “Tracking the Legacy of Enslavement and Emancipation in the COVID-19 Century,” highlighting his ability to connect historical insights with contemporary issues.

He appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? a BBC genealogy documentary series in which celebrity participants trace their family background. He assisted the American actress Gwyneth Paltrow in discovering her Barbadian roots.

Dr Welch was the son of prominent politician and women’s rights advocate Dame Maizie Barker-Welch who died last year and Democratic Labour Party stalwart Pedro Welch Snr.

His death comes within weeks of the passing of two other prominent figures in the field of Barbadian and West Indian history, Dr Karl Watson and  Trevor Marshall.