Henry Dampier
Henry Dampier | |
|---|---|
| Born | Early 18th century |
| Died | 17 October 1771 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation(s) | English Merchant, Mayor of Bristol, High Sheriff |
| Years active | 1728-1743 |
| Known for | Slave Trading |
Henry Dampier (18th Century) was born in Bristol. He was an English slave trader, merchant, and was declared a junior warden in 1736 of the Society of Merchant Ventures.[1] Dampier became master of the Society of Merchant Venturers in 1750, elected Sheriff and eventually Mayor of Bristol. Dampier traded in slaves during the Atlantic Slave Trade[2]
Early life
Henry Dampier was born in the early 18th century, in the city of Bristol, England and died on 17 October 1771.[3] He became a High Sheriff of Bristol in 1737 and then again on 1751, Henry then became mayor of Bristol in 1755.[4] In the decade and a half after 1730, Henry Dampier was one among 20 merchants that dominated the port's trade to Africa. Dampier had influence from a long-established merchant, James Day. James Day was responsible for guiding Dampier into the business of slave trading. Henry Dampier and James Day were related by marriage. Through this connection, Dampier was able to acquire close connections with a prominent local merchant. For this reason Dampier's reputation and connections encouraged others to invest in his company.[5]
Career
In 1726, Dampier became a member of the Royal African Company.[6] He also became a member of the Society of Merchant Ventures on 17 October 1728 through his apprenticeship with James Day.[7]
| Vessel Name | Slave Pick up Point | Destination | Number of Slaves | Slaves That Survived the Voyage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldfinch (6 voyages) | Other Africa, Bight of Biafra, Gulf of Guinea Islands | Jamaica, Barbados, Virginia, Maryland | 1,854 | 1,488 |
| Bridgett (3 voyages) | West Central Africa, St. Helena | Jamaica, Virginia | 1,017 | 908 |
| Nightingale (6 voyages) | Other Africa, Gold Coast | Jamaica | 1,628 | 1,321 |
| Bridget Gally (2 voyages) | West Central Africa, St. Helena | Jamaica, Virginia | 678 | 601 |
| Dreadnought Gally (1 voyage) | Bight of Biafra, Gulf of Guinea Islands | Jamaica | 299 | 227 |
| Dreadnought (1 voyage) | Bight of Biafra, Gulf of Guinea Islands | Virginia | 298 | 226 |
| Recovery (1 voyage) | Other Africa | St. Kitts | 271 | 217 |
| Henry's Gally (1 voyage) | Other Africa | Jamaica | 271 | 217 |
| Henry's (2 voyages) | Other Africa, West Central Africa, St. Helena | Jamaica, Virginia | 620 | 515 |
| Prince Harry (1 voyage) | Other Africa | Barbados | 271 | 217 |
| Bridget (2 voyages) | Other Africa, West Central Africa, St. Helena | Virginia | 387 | 340 |
| Totals | 26 voyages | 5 destinations | 7,594 slaves | 6,277 slaves |
Source:[8]
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
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Dampier began his involvement in the Atlantic Slave Trade in 1728; his last voyage was in 1743. Dampier's slave vessels made approximately 26 voyages for the purpose of trading slaves, acquiring 7,594 slaves in Africa, with 6,277 surviving. After purchase they were sent to various ports including Jamaica and other Caribbean ports, but also Virginia and Maryland. Dampier's principal region of purchases included St. Helena, the Bight of Biafra the Gulf of Guinea Islands, the Gold Coast and other minor trading posts in West Central Africa.
The total number of slaves taken to the Caribbean was 5,376, while the total taken to Mainland North America was 2,218. Dampier was responsible for a total of 7,594 embarked slaves with a net retention of 6,277, meaning 18% or 1,317 slaves died during their voyage. On average 292.1 slaves were embarked per voyage and 241.4 disembarked per voyage.
Source:[9]
References
- ^ Latimer, John (1903). The History of the Society of Merchant Venturers of the City of Bristol: With Some Account of the Anterior Merchants' Guilds. J. W. Arrowsmith.
- ^ Minchinton, Walter E. (1957). The Trade of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century. Bristol Record Society.
- ^ E., Minchinton, Walter (1984). Virginia slave-trade statistics, 1698-1775. King, Celia M. (Celia Mary), Waite, Peter B., Virginia State Library. Richmond: Virginia State Library. ISBN 0884901181. OCLC 10799029.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Latimer, John (1893). The Annals of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century. author.
- ^ Richardson, David (1987). Bristol, Africa and the Eighteenth-century Slave Trade to America: The years of ascendancy, 1730-1745. Bristol Record Society.
- ^ "Voyage Information". www.slavevoyages.org. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
- ^ Society of Merchant Ventures (1963). Politics And The Port of Bristol In The Eighteenth Century: The Petitions of the Society of Merchant Ventures 1698-1803. Bristol Record Society. p. 212.
- ^ "Search The Voyages Database". www.slavevoyages.org. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
- ^ "Search The Voyages Database". www.slavevoyages.org. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
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