On Sunday, 14th April, 1816, he led a rebellion against the British sugar cane Planters involving over 400 enslaved people led by a man called Bussa. The uprising had been carefully planned for some time, following the rejection of an Imperial Registry Bill in November, 1815. It was executed by enslaved people at plantations scattered around Barbados,
The rebellion was the first in 124 years and resulted in a battle between the enslaved people, the planters and the First West India Regiment. Bussa was killed in battle and the revolt was quelled, due to the superior weapons of the army.