Rachel Pringle Polgreen, born Rachel Lauder in 1753 in Barbados, emerged as a significant historical figure as the first woman of color to own a Hotel-Tavern in Bridgetown during the 1770s and 1780s. Her establishment, known as the Royal Navy Hotel, gained notoriety for catering to British Naval officers, offering entertainment that often included sexual services.
Rachel was born to an enslaved African mother and her owner, William Lauder, a Scottish schoolmaster who had fled England after publishing controversial critiques of the poet John Milton. Facing abuse from her father after rejecting his sexual advances, Rachel’s life took a pivotal turn at around 16 years old. Captain Thomas Pringle, a relative of Lauder, offered her freedom and a house in exchange for sexual favors. Rachel accepted, adopting the surname Pringle and severing ties with her father’s name.
In 1780, Rachel opened her tavern on Canary Street in Bridgetown, which operated as a brothel catering primarily to British Royal Navy sailors. The establishment became a hub for interracial interactions, common among Creole and British men in Barbados. A notable visitor was Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence (later King William IV), who reportedly visited in the 1790s. During one visit, the Prince and his 49th Regiment allegedly damaged the hotel in a drunken outburst. Rachel boldly billed the Prince for the damages, receiving payment sufficient to renovate the hotel more luxuriously than before. This incident reportedly inspired the name “Royal Navy Hotel.”
By the 1790s, Polgreen’s success was evident in Bridgetown’s tax records, which listed her as the owner of a residence, two smaller houses, five tenements, and two additional properties. Her wealth and influence were remarkable for a woman of color in a colonial society. Rachel’s life was not without scandal. She allegedly feigned a pregnancy to gain leverage over Thomas Pringle, leading to their separation when he relocated to Jamaica. Later, she adopted the surname Polgreen, linked to another prominent white Barbadian, James Polgreen, though no evidence confirms a formal relationship.
Rachel Pringle Polgreen died on July 23, 1791, at age 38. At the time of her death, she owned significant real estate and at least 19 slaves. Her will, drafted two days before her passing, granted freedom to six slaves and bequeathed others to those she manumitted. The Royal Navy Hotel continued operating until it was destroyed by fire in 1821. A hand-colored portrait of Polgreen, painted by English artist Thomas Rowlandson in 1796, is preserved in the Royal Trust Collection of Queen Elizabeth II, underscoring her historical significance.