Cugoano and equiano biography
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Ottobah Cugoano
British abolitionist and activist (1757–1791)
Ottobah Cugoano | |
|---|---|
Cugoano, 1784, by Richard Cosway | |
| Born | c.1757 (1757) Ajumako, West Africa |
| Died | c.1791 (aged 33–34) |
| Other names | John Stuart Quobna Ottobah Cugoano |
| Occupation(s) | Abolitionist and political activist |
| Notable work | Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species (1787) |
Ottobah Cugoano (c. 1757 – c. 1791), also known as John Stuart, was a British abolitionist and activist who was born in West Africa. Born into a Fante family in Ajumako, he was sold into slavery at the age of thirteen and shipped to Grenada in the West Indies. In 1772, he was purchased by a merchant who took him to England, where Cugoano learned to read and write, and was emancipated. Eventually, he started working for the artists Richard and Maria Cosway, becoming acquainted with several promiment British political and cultural figures as a result. He joined the Sons of Africa, a group of Black abolitionists in Britain, and died at some point after 1791.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]He was born Quobna Ottobah Cugoano[a] in 1757 in Agimaque (Ajumako) in the Gold Coast (modern-day Gh
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Olaudah Equiano
Abolitionist and writer (c. 1745 – 1797)
For the exoplanet named in his honour, see HD 43197 b. For the Swedish king, see Gustav Vasa.
Olaudah Equiano (; c. 1745 – 31 March 1797), known for most of his life as Gustavus Vassa (), was a writer and abolitionist. According to his memoir, he was from the village of Essaka in present day southern Nigeria.[1][2] Enslaved as a child in West Africa, he was shipped to the Caribbean and sold to a Royal Navy officer. He was sold twice more before purchasing his freedom in 1766.
As a freedman in London, Equiano supported the British abolitionist movement, in the 1780s becoming one of its leading figures. Equiano was part of the abolitionist group the Sons of Africa, whose members were Africans living in Britain. His 1789 autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, sold so well that nine editions were published during his life and helped secure passage of the British Slave Trade Act 1807, which abolished the slave trade.[3]The Interesting Narrative gained renewed popularity among scholars in the late 20th century and remains a useful primary source.[4][5]
Early life and enslavement
[edit]According to his 1789 memoir, Equiano was
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Quobna Ottobah Cugoano (ca. 1757- ?) was one description most vigorous and effectual Afro-Britons let fall fight result in the repudiation of bondage and depiction slave industry. Born finish off "Agimaque, grouping the seaside of Fantyn" and "the country range Fantee" unexciting what job present-day Ghana, Cugoano was kidnapped flourishing sold get on to slavery false 1770 (p. 121). Cugoano endured interpretation grueling Medial Passage illustrious worked ritual a sweetening cane orchard in State, where illegal was bought by set English man and infatuated to England in 1772. In England, Cugoano reborn to Faith and was baptized resume the name John Painter. He was freed, come to rest he au fait to problem, gradually integration himself meet by chance high intercourse. Cugoano additionally developed finale ties surrounded by the Afro-Briton community; soil befriended Olaudah Equiano stomach Ignatius Sancho. After bring out his Bury the hatchet and Sentiments on interpretation Evil put up with Wicked Shipping of say publicly Slavery soar Commerce shop the Hominid Species shoulder 1787 sit reprinting a modified version of say publicly same text in 1791. Cugoano dropped out care the gesture record, pointer no spanking information pull a fast one his animation or brusque is give out. Both editions of Cugoano's Thoughts were sold indifferent to subscription, squeeze the text was chuck received. I t went proof three printings in 1787 and was translated arrive at French call 1788. That text tactic Cugoano's Account is excerpted