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Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)

Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797). Author of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African Born in 'Eboe' in Guinea to the chief of the tribe; Ibo (or Igbo) language of present day Nigeria Kidnapped at age 11 and sold to African masters

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Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)

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  1. Olaudah Equiano(1745-1797)

  2. Author of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African Born in 'Eboe' in Guinea to the chief of the tribe; Ibo (or Igbo) language of present day Nigeria Kidnapped at age 11 and sold to African masters Endured the Middle Passage (the journey between Africa and the New World) Sold to Michael Pascal, a British naval officer while in the West Indies Pascal renames him Gustavus Vassa showing his dominion over his “possession” Gustavus Vassa was a 16th century nobleman who led the Swedes out of slavery Learned to read and write while attending school in London Fought for the British in the Seven Years War with France; a gunpowder carrier

  3. After the war, he is sold to a sea captain who travels to Montserrat where Equiano witnessed unimaginable slave terrors Next, he was sold to Robert King, a Quaker merchant who trained Equiano as a gauger (quality control inspector) In 1766, he saved up £40 to buy his own freedom and moves back to London In the late 1770s, Equiano converted to Christianity and joined the antislavery movement He was trying to help his friend John Annis, a former slave who was kidnapped by his former owner Equiano meets Granville Sharp, the first British abolitionist while trying to free Annis In 1775, he works to establish a new colony in present-day Nicaragua **a Christian missionary **a slave owner/ameliorationist “[I did] 'every thing I could to comfort the poor creatures, and render their condition easy‘”.

  4. Published his slave narrative as the antislavery debate was beginning in Britain • Traveled the British Isles promoting his book (a financial success) • Transformed his entire life into a sort of anti-slavery document • In 1792 he married an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen and had two daughters; one of whom survived to inherit a substantial estate of £950 from her father (equivalent to about £100,000 or $160,000 today)

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