what was olaudah equiano childhood like

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What was Olaudah Equiano's life like before his enslavement?

Equiano worked as a deckhand, valet and barber for King for some three years, quietly earning extra money by trading goods on the side until finally, in 1766, aged 21, he had earned enough money to buy his freedom.

How was Olaudah Equiano treated?

Captured far from the African coast when he was a boy of 11, Olaudah Equiano was sold into slavery, later acquired his freedom, and, in 1789, wrote his widely-read autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.

Where did Olaudah Equiano attend school?

Being the slave of a naval captain, Equiano was afforded naval training and was able to travel extensively. He was sent to school in England by Pascal to learn to read. This was during the Seven Years War with France. Equiano was Pascal's personal servant but was also expected to contribute in times of battle.

How old was Equiano when he bought his freedom?

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.

What kind of person was Equiano?

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.

How did Equiano become enslaved?

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.

How did Equiano get kidnapped?

1745 - 1797) 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.

How much did Olaudah Equiano pay for freedom?

For African slaves, barbaric treatment was the norm; civility the exception. But in 1766, Equiano received a degree of civility (in a very relative sense of the word) when his owner, the American Quaker and merchant Robert King, allowed him to purchase his own freedom for £40 (more than £5,000 in modern money).

Why did Equiano get baptized?

Equiano was baptized a Christian in London at St. Margaret's Church in 1759. In his Narrative, he explains that a female relation of his master often told him that he could not go to Heaven unless he was Baptized. He asked this woman, Miss Guerin, to have him baptized, and she convinced his master to do so.

How did Equiano's age affect his experience?

How does Equiano's age affect his experience during the voyage? He is granted certain privileges because of his age. He was often kept on deck rather than being cramped below.

Did Equiano stop slavery?

Almost a decade later, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” helped influence parliament into passing the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended the African slave trade in Britain. Finally, British parliament had taken its first step towards the complete abolition of slavery.

What were Equiano's greatest fears during the Middle Passage?

Olaudah Equiano vividly recounts the shock and isolation that he felt during the Middle Passage to Barbados and his fear that the European slavers would eat him.

How did Pascal treat Equiano?

Though Pascal is the first white man to treat Equiano kindly, he later cruelly betrays Equiano and sells him to another master. While Equiano seems to forgive him, Pascal—out of either malice or guilt—refuses to engage with Equiano even after Equiano returns as a free man to England.

How did religion affect Olaudah Equiano's life?

Equiano was baptized a Christian in London at St. Margaret's Church in 1759. In his Narrative, he explains that a female relation of his master often told him that he could not go to Heaven unless he was Baptized. He asked this woman, Miss Guerin, to have him baptized, and she convinced his master to do so.

What happened to Olaudah Equiano after he was freed?

Despite allusions to his manumission, Pascal sold him to a captain bound for the Caribbean, who in turn sold him to a Quaker named Robert King in Montserrat. King recognized Equiano's skills and put him to work in marketing rather than in the fields.

How did Equiano feel about Christianity?

Equiano's move towards Christianity played a very strong part in forming his own identity against those same oppressors who stripped his identity away from him. In the early stages of Equiano's religious life, he identifies himself as being apart of the Igbo religion.

Who was Olaudah Equiano?

Olaudah Equiano, (born c. 1745, Essaka [now in Nigeria]?—died March 31, 1797, London, England), self-proclaimed West African sold into slavery and later freed. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano; or, Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789), with its strong abolitionist stance ...

Where did Equiano go to get his freedom?

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. After he settled in England, he became an active abolitionist, agitating and lecturing against the cruelty of British slave owners in Jamaica. He briefly was commissary to Sierra Leone for the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor; his concerns for the settlers—some 500 to 600 formerly enslaved people—and for their ill treatment before their journey ultimately led to his replacement.

What is an encyclopedia editor?

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...

Who is the author of the book The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano?

title page of Olaudah Equiano's autobiography. Title page from the first edition of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano; or, Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789). Equiano is often regarded as the originator of the slave narrative because of his firsthand literary testimony against the slave trade.

Was Equiano born in North America?

At the turn of the 21st century, newly discovered documents suggesting that Equiano may have been born in North America raised questions, still unresolved, about whether his accounts of Africa and the Middle Passage are based on memory, reading, or a combination of the two.

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.

What did Pascal do to Equiano?

Pascal took Equiano with him when he returned to England and had him accompany him as a valet during the Seven Years' War with France (1756–1763). Equiano gives eyewitness reports of the Siege of Louisbourg (1758), the Battle of Lagos (1759) and the Capture of Belle Île (1761). 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. Pascal favoured Equiano and sent him to his sister-in-law in Great Britain so that he could attend school and learn to read and write.

Why was Equiano so tense?

At this time, due to the excesses of the French Revolution, British society was tense because of fears of revolution. Reformers were considered more suspect than in other periods. In the 1794 Treason Trials, Thomas Hardy, John Horne Tooke and John Thelwall were tried for high treason but acquitted.

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'.

What happened to Equiano?

Equiano recounted an incident of an attempted kidnapping of children in his Igbo village, which was foiled by adults. When he was around the age of eleven, he and his sister were left alone to look after their family premises, as was common when adults went out of the house to work. They were both kidnapped and taken far from their hometown, separated and sold to slave traders. He tried to escape but was thwarted. After his owners changed several times, Equiano happened to meet with his sister but they were separated again. Six or seven months after he had been kidnapped, he arrived at the coast where he was taken on board a European slave ship. He was transported with 244 other enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to Barbados in the British West Indies. He and a few other slaves were sent on for sale in the Colony of Virginia .

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 are some interesting facts about Olaudah Equiano?

Key Facts about The Life of Olaudah Equiano. Antagonist: The slave trade in general is the vast , inhuman antagonist against which Equiano struggles throughout the book—indeed , it is the slave trade against which Equiano writes the narrative itself .

What is the historical context of Olaudah Equiano?

Historical Context of The Life of Olaudah Equiano. For the nearly 300 years that preceded Olaudah Equiano’s writing of his life , the international slave trade had shrunk the world like never before: “globalization” could already describe this interconnected relationship between humans, goods, and places.

What is the literary period of Equiano?

Literary Period: Enlightenment/18th-century. Genre: Autobiography. Antagonist: The slave trade in general is the vast, inhuman antagonist against which Equiano struggles throughout the book—indeed, it is the slave trade against which Equiano writes the narrative itself.

Where was Equiano born?

Equiano was born in an African village and kidnapped into slavery at the age of eleven. After being transported to the African coast and subsequently to Barbados and Virginia, he was bought by a former naval officer and merchant, Michael Henry Pascal, who brought him to England. From there he was traded between a number ...

When did slavery stop in Britain?

Starting in 1772, slavery was no longer legal within Britain, but it wasn’t until 1807 that the Slave Trade Act suppressed the international slave trade in the British Empire. This act passed in large part thanks to agitations by Equiano and others.

Who was the woman that Equiano married?

Later in life, Equiano married a white woman, Susannah Cullen. They had several children, but only one survived into adulthood.

Where did Europeans buy black people?

Europeans would capture black people in Africa, or buy them from traders on the coast; they would then ship them to the West Indies to be sold as slaves, trading them for raw goods cultivated on plantations, and would carry these raw materials back to Europe to be processed and then sold in Africa and elsewhere.

When was Olaudah Equiano written?

Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself, 1791.

How many Africans crossed the Atlantic?

From the 16th to the 18th centuries, an estimated 20 million Africans crossed the Atlantic to the Americas in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Until recently, slave studies rarely discussed children's experiences, but it has been estimated that one quarter of the slaves who crossed the Atlantic were children.

Who was put in the hold with the adults?

This source is a part of the Children in the Slave Trade and the Childhood and Transatlantic Slavery teaching modules. Olaudah Equiano , The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano , Written by Himself, 1791.

Did Africans survive the Coffles?

Many Africans who survived the coffles and made their way to the coast had never seen a white man, let alone the ocean or a slave ship. For Equiano, a child of 11, this experience was one he could not understand.

What does Equiano emphasize in his autobiography?

By writing his autobiography, Equiano emphasizes that he has completed the civilizing process, and can now be fully accepted as a rational, enlightened European subject himself. He’s no longer even just a reader, but also a writer, able to trace his own path of education.

What is the purpose of Olaudah Equiano's story?

In telling the story of his life from his childhood to the present day, Olaudah Equiano seeks to acquaint his British readers with the richness of life in his African home by detailing the dances, rites, and other social customs of his village. Equiano thus makes a case for the vibrant cultural life of African peoples, ...

How did Equiano gain access to European culture?

He seeks to “imbibe” and “imitate” the Europeans through a long process of education that is meant to make him into one of the “civilized” subjects, despite the fact that these “civilized” subjects have enslaved and subjugated him. By writing his autobiography, Equiano emphasizes that he has completed the civilizing process, and can now be fully accepted as a rational, enlightened European subject himself. He’s no longer even just a reader, but also a writer, able to trace his own path of education. He does this in part in order to prove to his prejudiced readers that an African man can complete this path. A modern reader may find Equiano’s path here self-defeating or upsetting, as he embraces the terms of the very society that enslaved him. But from Equiano’s point of view it is an individual story of triumph, which might allow other people like him to follow in his path.

What does Equiano argue about Africans?

Equiano argues that Africans are no less intelligent than Europeans —they simply haven’t been educated in the same way. Equiano thus does not critique the basis of the European distinction between their own “civilized” society and “barbaric” African culture.

How does Equiano describe his home village?

At a number of points, Equiano describes his home village by comparing his native customs to Jewish customs.

What does Equiano think of ships?

At some points, indeed, the narrative seems to portray Equiano’s earlier self as humorously untutored: he thinks that ships run thanks to magic forces, or that compasses have a life of their own. But the autobiography also captures his growth into a supremely skilled seaman.

What is the purpose of the poem "I hope to have the satisfaction of seeing the renovation of liberty and justice"?

I hope to have the satisfaction of seeing the renovation of liberty and justice, resting on the British government, to vindicate the honour of our common nature. These are concerns which do not, perhaps, belong to any particular office: but to speak more seriously, to every man of sentiment actions like these are the just and sure foundation of future fame; a reversion, though remote, is coveted by some noble minds as a substantial good. It is upon these grounds that I hope and expect the attention of gentlemen in power.

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).

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.

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, ...

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.

How much money did Equiano save?

Over three years while working for King, Equiano saved over £40, which was more than enough to buy his own personal freedom. He did so in 1766.

What war did Equiano serve in?

5. He served in the Seven Years War. Equiano spent most of his teenage life onboard Naval ships engaged in the Seven Years War. He was used as a ‘powder monkey’, hauling gunpowder to the gun decks during battle.

Who was Olaudah Equiano?

Olaudah Equiano was the first publishing writer in Britain of African descent. He later penned as Gustavus Vassa in the late 1780s.

Why was Equiano present at Maria's baptism?

Equiano was involved in his book promotion and the abolitionist cause, so he could be present during Maria’s birth but her baptism may have been postponed until 30 January 1794 in order for him to be present. However, after her mother. Their second daughter, Joanna was born on 11 April 1795.

What did Equiano do?

Equiano also actively advocated against the cruelty induced by the British slave owners in Jamaica during his lectures. He was also a commissary for the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor in Sierra Leone. He worked in companying the settlement of 500 to 600 previously enslaved people and also for their treatment.

What happened to Olaudah Equiano?

Olaudah Equiano | Biography. According to his account, he was kidnapped at the age of eleven and was taken to be sold for slavery. While he was being transported out of Africa, he visited multiple places and crossed oceans. He later wrote about his voyage from Africa to Virginia (where he was sold) later in his memoir 'The Interesting Narrative Of ...

How long did Equiano travel?

As such, he traveled for 20 years until finally settling in London. There he joined the Abolitionist movement and funded the Black Lobbyist group ‘Sons of Africa’ and also published the memoirs of his experiences with slavery. The book became immensely popular, which attracted him to royalties and fame. In his later years of life, Equiano conducted lectures throughout the country and actively advocated against slavery, which was eventually abolished in Britain in 1807, while he passed away in 1797.

How many editions of Equiano's book were there?

Further, the book had garnered immense popularity and was translated into many languages. The book went through eight editions of publications while Equiano was alive. And during the fame of his writings, he traveled to many countries to give lectures on the Abolitionist Cause.

What was the main cause of Equiano's memoirs?

After his return from the Arctic, he participated in Abolitionists movements campaigning against the Slave Trade. Through their encouragement, Equiano published his memoirs in 1789.

What did Equiano try to do in the first chapter of the book?

By providing a comprehensive analysis of the Igbo people in the first chapter, Equiano attempts to influence Europeans to consider slavery as a problem that was disrupting humble lives in Africa. He attempts to make Europeans realize that the Africans were normal people who deserved their rights.

Why is Equiano considered lucky?

It is important to note that Equiano considers himself fortunate rather than a victim of slavery primarily because he compares his life with that of other people forced into slavery. In addition, he compares himself with other African people who were captured and enslaved in Africa. From this perspective, Equiano can be considered lucky to have lived a better life and achieved freedom.

Why was Gustavus Vassa named Gustavus Vassa?

In addition, he was named after a Danish ruler, who pioneered the country’s freedom in the year 1521. It can therefore be argued that rather than being subjected to oppressive conditions, he was treated honourably unlike all other slaves (Carretta 78). He was therefore among the few African slaves who had the opportunity of mingling with other Europeans and enjoying many benefits, among them travelling across the continent with his master. In addition, he was lucky to have witnessed several historical battles, an opportunity that was rarely enjoyed by other slaves.

Who was Equiano's friend?

Michael Pascal and other traders who worked with Equiano were kind to him, and treated him as a friend. For instance, Pascal went to an extent of allowing Equiano do his own “side business”. Finally, with proceedings from his side business, Equiano was lucky to buy his own freedom, something that was quite difficult for African slaves (Lovejoy 338). Although he always possessed the fear of being sold like other slaves, he always escaped the predicaments facing other African slaves. While most slaves maintained their African names, Equiano was lucky to have been given a different name by his master.

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.

Why did Equiano escape?

But, shortly after buying his freedom, slaveholders attempted to kidnap Equaino and return him to slavery. He only escaped by being able to prove his education. Equiano later pointed out the position of free slaves was little better than slaves because of the dreadful treatment, black men received.

What did Equiano do for the poor?

The revenue from book sales enabled Equiano to live independently of philanthropic backers and he could devote more time to campaigning against slavery. He also served as a leader for the poor black community of London. These were often freed slaves and their descendants but struggled to survive economically. Equiano also campaigned for the extension of the vote to working men. He was an active member of the Corresponding Society. He also supported the London Missionary society – a Christian organisation committed to spreading education and Christianity overseas.

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.

Why did Equiano try to wash the color out of his face?

Equiano wrote that he was so shocked by his experience that he tried to wash the colour out of his face in an attempt to escape his position as a slave.

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.

Overview

Legacy

• The Equiano Society was formed in London in November 1996. Its main objective is to publicise and celebrate the life and work of Olaudah Equiano.
• In 1789 Equiano moved to 10 Union Street (now 73 Riding House Street). A City of Westminster commemorative green plaque was unveiled there on 11 October 2000 as part of Black History Month. Student musicians from Trinity College of Music played a fanfare composed by Professor Ian Hall for the unveiling.

Early life and enslavement

Release

Freedom

Pioneer of the abolitionist cause

Memoir

Later years, radical connections