Black Aristocrats & Celebrities of the Victorian Era

Black Aristocrats & Celebrities of the Victorian Era

Author: Lindsay Holiday February 3, 2026 Duration: 29:13
Popular historic dramas like Bridgerton, Little Dorrit and year of the Rabbit sometimes receive criticism that their diverse casts are historically inaccurate. But in fact there have been people of color in Britain since Roman times. In a previous video, I explored the lives of 7 fascinating black Aristocrats & Celebrities who were living in 18th century England and France. Today we’ll travel forward in time and meet 7 more compelling people of African and mixed heritage who were making waves in Britain during the Victorian era. They include the Queen’s own goddaughter and her royal ward, a renowned actor, a heroic nurse, a circus performer immortalized by the Beatles, one of the most visible models of the era and a best-selling composer. Here are their stories... Sara Forbes Bonetta Ira Aldridge Mary Seacole Pablo Fanque Fanny Eaton Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Prince Alemayehu of Ethiopia Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Brandenburg Concerto No4-1 BWV1049 - Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100303 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday, Lindsay Holiday pours a fresh cup and settles in to share the fascinating, often overlooked tales from our past. History Tea Time is built on the idea that history is best served with a generous helping of personality and a focus on the compelling narratives that textbooks tend to skip. Lindsay’s approach feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who has a real knack for digging up the juiciest details. While you’ll often find episodes delving into the lives of queens and royalty from across the globe, there’s a consistent spotlight on women’s history, bringing forward the stories of figures who shaped the world from behind the throne or beyond the traditional spotlight. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a secret side of the past, one where the human drama, ambitions, and scandals are given center stage. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific story, told with clarity and a genuine enthusiasm that makes even the most complex historical moments accessible and utterly engaging. If you’ve ever wanted the real, unvarnished, and truly interesting stories behind the names and dates, this is your weekly invitation to listen in.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

History Tea Time
Podcast Episodes
Potential British Monarchs REJECTED for George I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
In 1700 the Stuart Dynasty was out of heirs, save one, Princess Anne. Parliament studied the royal family tree to determine who was next in line. The problem was they were all catholic. The succession skipped over 41 clo…
Anne, Queen of Great Britain & Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:19
Queen Anne was the younger sister of Mary II, half of England’s only joint monarchy, William and Mary. When they died, Anne had no interest in sharing the throne with her husband. She was the first married Queen of Engla…
Bonus! Spilling the Tea (on Tea), with You’re Dead To Me! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:53
This week, we're bringing you a special teaser of You're Dead To Me, the BBC's hit comedy podcast that takes history seriously – on a topic close to our hearts, Tea! In this episode, host Greg Jenner is joined by histori…
Mary II, Queen of England, Scotland, & Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:19
Queen Mary II was 1/2 of England’s only joint monarchy, and half of a pair of powerful sister Queens. She betrayed her father and took his throne with the support of her Dutch husband, William of Orange. She preferred to…
Royals who Died of Bubonic Plague [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:09
As the great pestilence burned across central Asia, north Africa and Europe, roughly 100 million people lost their lives in the worst pandemic in human history. More than half of the populations of Florence, Paris and Lo…
Lady Godiva, Medieval Nude Equestrian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
Lovers of folklore and Chocolate will have heard of the famous Lady Godiva, who rode her horse naked through the streets of Coventry with only her golden hair to preserve her modesty. And of peeping Tom, the only man in…
Anne Boleyn's Sister & Brother [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:32
Anne Boleyn is one of the most famous women in history. Her meteoric rise from minor noble to Queen of England, and even swifter downfall to the block in the tower of London is the stuff of legend and the focus of too ma…