See more
What did Olaudah Equiano do?
An enslaved man who bought his freedom and wrote compellingly about his experiences, Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745–1797) was an extraordinary man who became a prominent figure associated with the campaign to abolish the slave trade. Equiano was born in what is now Nigeria and sold into slavery aged 11.
What did Olaudah Equiano do in his early life?
According to his own account, Equiano was kidnapped at age 11 and taken to the West Indies. From there he went to Virginia, where he was purchased by a sea captain, Michael Henry Pascal, with whom he traveled widely. He received some education and changed hands twice more before he bought his own freedom in 1766.
Did Olaudah Equiano own slaves?
From a young age, Equiano was familiar with the institution of slavery. As an upper class citizen, he was entitled to own slaves. Although a slave himself at one time, he looks back on his village's use of slavery as decent, not detestable like what he sees in the West Indies.
What was Equiano's profession in 1767?
Equiano, who was allowed to engage in his own minor trade exchanges, was able to save enough money to purchase his freedom in 1766. He settled in England in 1767, attending school and working at various times as an assistant to scientist Dr. Charles Irving.
How does Equiano earn money?
While working as a deckhand, valet and barber for King, Equiano earned money by trading on the side. In only three years, he made enough money to buy his own freedom. Equiano then spent much of the next 20 years travelling the world, including trips to Turkey and the Arctic.
Who was Olaudah Equiano quizlet?
The narrator of the autobiography, Equiano is an educated, intelligent, and ambitious former slave who intends to showcase the horrors of the slave trade in order to spur on the abolitionist cause. Equiano claimed he was born in Africa, but recent scholarship suggests he was born in South Carolina.
Was Olaudah Equiano a real person?
Olaudah Equiano (/əˈlaʊdə/; c. 1745 – 31 March 1797), known for most of his life as Gustavus Vassa (/ˈvæsə/), was a writer and abolitionist from, according to his memoir, the Eboe (Igbo) region of the Kingdom of Benin (today southern Nigeria).
Why is Equiano's story important?
A: Well, for people in Africa, Equiano's narrative is very important because it is the anchor of African studies. In every discipline, you study Equiano. Historians begin with Equiano. Social scientists begin with Equiano.
How do you pronounce Olaudah?
0:551:09How to Pronounce "Olaudah Equiano" - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA un lado.MoreA un lado.
Who was Olaudah Equiano BBC Bitesize?
Olaudah Equiano attended many public meetings as part of the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. He gave first-hand accounts on his life as a slave. He published one of the few eyewitness accounts from a slave, 'The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano'.
How did Olaudah Equiano end slavery?
It is one of the earliest books published by a black African writer and helped influence British parliament to abolish the trade through the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Equiano used his experiences of slavery to campaign and persuade others to abolish the inhumane trade in African people.
Where is Equiano buried?
April 6, 1797Olaudah Equiano / Date of burial
What did Equiano fear when he was first brought aboard the ship?
What does Equiano fear will happen to him when he is taken aboard the ship? He fears the white man will kill and eat him. Why might he be so afraid? His fear probably result from him never seeing a white man before.
How do you pronounce Olaudah?
0:551:09How to Pronounce "Olaudah Equiano" - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA un lado.MoreA un lado.
Who was the first black person to write an autobiography in England?
Key figures of the 19th century include Robert Wedderburn, Mary Prince, and Mary Seacole, whose biography Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, was the first autobiography written by a black woman in Britain when it was published in 1857.
Where is Equiano buried?
April 6, 1797Olaudah Equiano / Date of burial
What was Equiano's duty?
Also trained in seamanship, Equiano was expected to assist the ship's crew in times of battle; his duty was to haul gunpowder to the gun decks.
What was the name of the book that Olaudah Equiano wrote?
He published his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789), which depicted the horrors of slavery. It went through nine editions in his lifetime and helped gain passage of the British Slave Trade Act 1807, which abolished the slave trade.
How many daughters did Equiano have?
He included his marriage in every edition of his autobiography from 1792 onwards. The couple settled in the area and had two daughters, Anna Maria (1793–1797) and Joanna (1795–1857) who were baptised at Soham church. Susannah died in February 1796, aged 34, and Equiano died a year after that on 31 March 1797.
Where is the plaque where Equiano lived?
Memoir. Plaque at Riding House Street, Westminster, noting the place where Equiano lived and published his narrative. Entitled The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African (1789), the book went through nine editions in his lifetime.
Where was Equiano born?
According to his memoir, Equiano was born in Essaka, Eboe, in the Kingdom of Benin. The village was in the southeastern part of present-day Nigeria. In his autobiography he wrote "My father, besides many slaves, had a numerous family, of which seven lived to grow up" and that he was the youngest son. He stated that his father was one of the elders or chiefs who sat in judgement with other elders to decide what to do about disputes or crimes. He refers to men called the Oye-Eboe who brought goods like guns, gunpowder and dried fish. In return Equiano says "Sometimes indeed we sold slaves to them, but they were only prisoners of war, or such among us as had been convicted of kidnapping, or adultery, and some other crimes, which we esteemed heinous." He proceeded, "When a trader wants slaves, he applies to a chief for them, and tempts him with his wares ... and accepts the price of his fellow creature's liberty with as little reluctance as the enlightened merchant". This was usually the cause of war in order to obtain the slaves to gratify 'his avarice'.
How did Robert King help Equiano?
Robert King set Equiano to work on his shipping routes and in his stores. In 1765, when Equiano was about 20 years old, King promised that for his purchase price of 40 pounds (equivalent to £5,500 in 2019) he could buy his freedom. King taught him to read and write more fluently, guided him along the path of religion, and allowed Equiano to engage in profitable trading for his own account, as well as on his owner's behalf. Equiano sold fruits, glass tumblers and other items between Georgia and the Caribbean islands. King allowed Equiano to buy his freedom, which he achieved in 1766. The merchant urged Equiano to stay on as a business partner. However, Equiano found it dangerous and limiting to remain in the British colonies as a freedman. While loading a ship in Georgia, he was almost kidnapped back into enslavement.
What was Equiano's role in the abolitionist movement?
He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766. As a freedman in London, Equiano supported the British abolitionist movement. He was part of the Sons of Africa, an abolitionist group composed of Africans living in Britain, and he was active among leaders of the anti-slave trade movement in the 1780s.
What was Olaudah Equiano's role in the Slave Trade Act?
His autobiography ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano ‘ played a pivotal role in turning public opinion in Britain against slavery. His accounts of slavery and its human suffering were a factor in the enactment of the Slave Trade Act of 1807.
Where was Olaudah Equiano born?
Olaudah Equiano writes that he was born in Nigeria in the year 1745 – a member of the Igbo tribe. Aged 11, he was kidnapped, along with sisters, by native slave-holders; after being sold to European slave traders, he was then packed into a slave ship and transferred across the Atlantic to Barbados.
Why did Equiano say that free slaves were better than slaves?
Equiano later pointed out the position of free slaves was little better than slaves because of the dreadful treatment, black men received.
What colony did Equiano end up in?
Equiano eventually ended up the British colony of Virginia. As a slave, he was given different names, including Gustavus Vassa. Equiano later wrote about the mistreatment of slaves on the Virginia plantations.
What was the significance of the book Equiano?
The book received good reviews, and many were surprised and moved by the quality of writing and his ability to depict life as a slave. The book made Equiano a prominent figure in literary circles. In 1788, Equiano was able to personally petition the king for the end of slavery.
Who taught Equiano to trade?
Doran furthered the education of Equiano and taught Equiano to assist him in trading. In his early 20s, Doran helped Equiano to purchase his freedom. Writing of the moment he gained his freedom, Equiano wrote:
Who did Equiano marry?
In 1792, Equiano married Susan Cullen, a local girl from Soham in Cambridgeshire. They had two daughters. He died in 1797 in London.
What was the name of the group that Olaudah Equiano was part of?
In 1786 in London, he became involved in the movement to abolish slavery. He was a prominent member of the 'Sons of Africa' , a group of 12 black men who campaigned for abolition. In 1789 he published his autobiography, 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African'.
Where was Olaudah Equiano born?
In his autobiography, Olaudah Equiano writes that he was born in the Eboe province, in the area that is now southern Nigeria. He describes how he was kidnapped with his sister at around the age of 11, sold by local slave traders and shipped across the Atlantic to Barbados and then Virginia.
Who was Equiano married to?
It is one of the earliest books published by a black African writer. In 1792, Equiano married an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen, and they had two daughters. Equiano died on 31 March 1797.
How long did Equiano travel with Pascal?
Equiano travelled the oceans with Pascal for eight years, during which time he was baptised and learned to read and write. Pascal then sold Equiano to a ship captain in London, who took him to Montserrat, where he was sold to the prominent merchant Robert King.
How many siblings did Olaudah Equiano have?
Siblings – 5 brothers, 1 sister. Married – Susanah Cullen. Children – Joanna Vassa, Anna Maria Vassa. Died – 31st March 1797. Loading... Loading... Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the African country that is now Nigeria. The adults worked in the fields during the day leaving the children to fend for themselves in the village.
Why was Olaudah chosen?
Those that had survived were sold at auction. Because he was so sickly Olaudah was one of the last to be chosen. Olaudah was not strong enough to work in the fields and so was given the task of sitting with the grandfather of the house who was dying.
How long did Olaudah spend in slavery?
After a few days they reached a larger African settlement and here Olaudah and his sister were separated and sold to different families. During the seven months that Olaudah spent in slavery in Africa he was mostly treated kindly, in some cases as part of the family, and was given fairly simple household tasks to do.
Who was Olaudah's wife?
Olaudah eventually travelled back to Nigeria to find his homeland, but sadly there was no trace of his village or his family. In 1792 he married Sussanah Cullen and they had two daughters. Olaudah died in 1797 at the age of 51 years.
What did the adults do in the fields during the day?
The adults worked in the fields during the day leaving the children to fend for themselves in the village. Older children were often given the task of acting as lookouts and if they saw any traders approaching the village they would let out a loud cry. Olaudah and his sister were in the hut when they heard the cry.
What did Olaudah Equiano learn?
Furthermore, his masters were benevolent enough to enable him to learn to read and write. Being an educated slave, Equiano made the most of his knowledge by penning an autobiography, ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’ which depicted the horror of slavery.
What was the high point of Olaudah Equiano's life?
The first slave narrative, it gave a personal account of Equiano’s enslaved life. The book gave a detailed explanation of the pitiable state of slaves and the inhumaneness faced by them.
What did Equiano do for Africa?
Banking on the popularity gained through the book, Equiano became an activist and worked hard to improve the economic, social and educational conditions in Africa. He was a leading figure of the black group, Sons of Africa that opposed slave trade. He actively contributed in the anti-slavery movement of the 1780s.
What was the role of Equiano in the Black community?
He became a leading spokesperson for the black community and one of the members of the free-Africans abolitionist group, Sons of Africa.
What did Equiano sell to set himself free?
To set himself free, Equiano engaged in profitable trade, selling fruits, glass tumblers, and other items between Georgia and the Caribbean islands. Two years later, in 1767, he finally bought back his freedom. In 1767, upon setting himself free, Equiano travelled to England.
Where did Equiano go to?
Following a brief period of stay in Africa, Equiano was sold to the European slave traders, who in turn shipped him across the Atlantic to Barbados in the West Indies along with 244 other enslaved Africans. From Barbados, a handful of African slaves including him were sent to the British colony of Virginia.
Who bought Equiano?
In Virginia, Equiano was bought by Michael Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Pascal gave Equiano the name of Gustavus Vassa, which stayed with him for the better part of his lifetime.
What is the most interesting fact about Olaudah Equiano?
Here are 15 interesting facts about the man who defied the odds. 1. He was born in the Kingdom of Benin. Using his memoir, historians think that Olaudah Equiano was born in the year 1745, in the Kingdom of Benin – what is now modern-day Nigeria. He was born into a local tribe and described the area he grew up in as a “nation of dancers, ...
Where did Equiano go?
Having been initially taken to Barbados, Equiano was eventually transported to the North American colony of Virginia, where he was bought by a Royal Navy lieutenant named Michael Henry Pascal. The two would form a close friendship.
How many children did Olaudah Equiano have?
They had two children together, Anna Maria (d. 1797) and Joanna Vassa. 15. He left a fortune for his children. Olaudah Equiano died on 31 March 1797 in London at the age of 52. His two daughters inherited a fortune of £950 (worth roughly £100,000 today).
What group did Equiano belong to?
He became a member of the ‘Sons of Africa’. After this venture, Equiano returned to London where he became an active member of the ‘Sons of Africa’, an abolitionist group comprised of Africans living in Britain. This group was closely connected to the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
How old was Equiano when he was sold to slavery?
Equiano was sold into slavery at the age of eleven, having been kidnapped from his local village along with his sister by local, African slave traders. He embarked upon a long journey toward the Gold Coast, where he was eventually sold to an owner of a slave ship bound for the West Indies.
Why did Iriving hire Equiano?
Charles Irving on the voyage. In a somewhat ironic turn of events, Iriving later employed Equiano, because of his African background, to help select slaves in South America and manage them as labourers on sugar-cane plantations.
What role did Equiano play in the West Indies?
Equiano was trusted with a position of responsibility, trading goods for King around the West Indies and North America. This role enabled Equiano to save up some additional income. Shipping of Sugar in Antigua by William Clark, 1823. Image Credit: Public Domain.
Overview
Olaudah Equiano , known for most of his life as Gustavus Vassa (/ˈvæsə/), was a writer and abolitionist from, according to his memoir, the Eboe (Igbo) region of the Kingdom of Benin (today southern Nigeria). Enslaved as a child in Africa, he was taken to the Caribbean and sold as a slave to a Royal Navy officer. He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766.
As a freedman in London, Equiano supported the British abolitionist movement. He was part of the Sons …
Early life and enslavement
According to his memoir, Equiano was born in Essaka, Eboe, in the Kingdom of Benin around 1745. The village was in the southeast part of present-day Nigeria. In his autobiography he wrote: "My father, besides many slaves, had a numerous family, of which seven lived to grow up" and that he was the youngest son. He stated that his father was one of the elders or chiefs who sat in judgement with other elders to decide what to do about disputes or crimes. He refers to men cal…
Release
Robert King set Equiano to work on his shipping routes and in his stores. In 1765, when Equiano was about 20 years old, King promised that for his purchase price of 40 pounds (equivalent to £5,800 in 2021) he could buy his freedom. King taught him to read and write more fluently, guided him along the path of religion, and allowed Equiano to engage in profitable trading for his ow…
Freedom
By about 1768, Equiano had gone to England. He continued to work at sea, travelling sometimes as a deckhand based in England. In 1773 on the Royal Navy ship HMS Racehorse, he travelled to the Arctic in an expedition towards the North Pole. On that voyage he worked with Dr Charles Irving, who had developed a process to distill seawater and later made a fortune from it. Two years later, Irving recruited Equiano for a project on the Mosquito Coast in Central America, where he was to …
Pioneer of the abolitionist cause
Equiano settled in London, where in the 1780s he became involved in the abolitionist movement. The movement to end the slave trade had been particularly strong among Quakers, but the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was founded in 1787 as a non-denominational group, with Anglican members, in an attempt to influence parliament directly. Under the Test Act, only those prepared to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper according to the rites of the Churc…
Memoir
Entitled The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African (1789), the book went through nine editions in his lifetime. It is one of the earliest-known examples of published writing by an African writer to be widely read in England. By 1792, it was a best seller and had been published in Russia, Germany, Holland and the United States. It was the first influential slave narrative of what became a large literary genre. But Equiano's experience in …
Later years, radical connections
During the American Revolutionary War, Britain had recruited black people to fight with it by offering freedom to those who left rebel masters. In practice, it also freed women and children, and attracted thousands of slaves to its lines in New York City, which it occupied, and in the South, where its troops occupied Charleston, South Carolina. When British troops were evacuated at the end of the war, their officers also evacuated these American slaves. They were resettled i…
Marriage and family
On 7 April 1792, Equiano married Susannah Cullen, a local woman, in St Andrew's Church, Soham, Cambridgeshire. The original marriage register containing the entry for Vassa and Cullen is held today by the Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies. He included his marriage in every edition of his autobiography from 1792 onwards. The couple settled in the area and had tw…
Early Life and Experience as A Slave
A Free Man
- Doran furthered the education of Equiano and taught Equiano to assist him in trading. In his early 20s, Doran helped Equiano to purchase his freedom. Writing of the moment he gained his freedom, Equiano wrote: Initially, he stayed in America to assist Doran as a business partner. But, shortly after buying his freedom, slaveholders attempted to kidnap Equaino and return him to sla…
Anti – Slavery Movement
- Back in England, he was befriended by many who supported the abolition of the slave trade. Many abolitionists were Quakers, but in the late Eighteenth Century, the movement was spreading to other denominations. Equiano was able to give a first-hand testament about life as a slave. This information was useful for those who were hoping to change the law and outlaw slavery. His frie…
Legacy of Equiano
- Although there is some controversy about the exact birthplace of Equiano – some historians believe he may have been born in North America rather than Africa, there is no doubt that Equiano played a pivotal figure in the anti-slavery movement. His writing and speeches helped show people that there was a strong sense of shared humanity. He made a pas...
The Interesting Narrative of The Life of Olaudah Equiano
- The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equianoat Amazon Related pages People who fought for human/civil rights– People who campaigned for equality, civil rights and civil justice. Includes Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. People in the anti-slavery movement– Men and women who campaigned for the end of slavery. This includes form…