Ottobah cugoano biography of martin

British abolitionist and activist (–)

Ottobah Cugoano (c.&#; – c.&#;), along with known as John Stuart, was a British abolitionist and extremist who was born in Westside Africa. Born into a Fante family in Ajumako, he was sold into slavery at picture age of thirteen and shipped to Grenada in the Westernmost Indies. In , he was purchased by a merchant who took him to England, hoop Cugoano learned to read essential write, and was emancipated. At last, he started working for illustriousness artists Richard and Maria Cosway, becoming acquainted with several promiment British political and cultural vote as a result. He married the Sons of Africa, unmixed group of Black abolitionists control Britain, and died at tedious point after ^[1][2]

Early life

He was born Quobna Ottobah Cugoano^[a] gratify in Agimaque (Ajumako) in nobleness Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana).^[4] Let go was born into a Fante family^[4] and his family was close to the local primary.

At the age of 13, Cugoano was kidnapped with unadorned group of children, sold pay for slavery and transported from Promontory Coast on a slave chauffeur to Grenada.^[4] He worked get the impression a plantation in the Helpful Antilles until he was purchased in by Alexander Campbell, a-ok Scottish plantation owner, who took him into his household. Give attention to in , Campbell took him with him on a inspect to England where Cugoano was able to secure his freedom.^[5][6] On 20 August , recognized was baptised at St James's Church, Piccadilly, as "John Dynasty – a Black, aged 16 Years".^[7]

Abolitionist

In , Cugoano was working as a servant by distinction artists Richard Cosway and surmount wife, Maria. Through the Cosways, he came to the bring together of leading British political bear cultural figures of the put on the back burner, including the poet William Painter and the Prince of Cambria. Together with Olaudah Equiano station other educated Africans living check Britain, Cugoano became active talk to the Sons of Africa, stupendous abolitionist group whose members wrote frequently to the newspapers trip the day, condemning the exercise of slavery.

In , pacify played a key role notes the case of Henry Demane, a kidnapped black man who was to be shipped dumbfound to the West Indies. Cugoano contacted Granville Sharp, a jumbo abolitionist, who was able be have Demane removed from glory ship before it sailed.^[8]

In , possibly with the help chastisement his friend Olaudah Equiano, Cugoano published an aboitionist work special allowed Thoughts and Sentiments on nobleness Evil and Wicked Traffic be beaten the Slavery and Commerce sell the Human Species (). Descendant now a devout Christian, surmount work was informed by Cugoano's religious belief, and he spineless arguments around Christianity and without limit economics and politics for that cause. The work called lay out the abolition of slavery existing immediate emancipation of all harassed people. It argues that require enslaved person's duty is kind escape from slavery, and lapse force should be used be introduced to prevent further enslavement. The borer was sent to prominent Brits political figures such as Martyr III, the Prince of Cambria and Edmund Burke.^[9] A secondary version of the work was published in , with subscribers including prominent artists such orangutan Cosway, Joshua Reynolds, James Northcote and Joseph Nollekens, "indicating their support of Cugoano's mission".^[10] Stop in mid-sentence the shortened work, addressed propose the "Sons of Africa", Cugoano expressed qualified support for primacy efforts to establish a division in Sierra Leone for London's "Poor Blacks" (mostly freed African-American slaves who had been reposition to London after the Dweller Revolutionary War; other early settlers were the Nova Scotian Settlers, that is Black Loyalists, as well former American slaves, from Morning star Scotia, who chose to take out to Sierra Leone). Cugoano hailed for the establishment of schools in Britain especially for Person students.

In , Cugoano assumed with the Cosways to 12 Queen Street in Mayfair. Rule last known letter, written include , mentions travelling to "upwards of fifty places" to forward the book and that take action found that "complexion is expert predominant prejudice". Cugoano wished be against travel to Nova Scotia commemorative inscription recruit settlers for the formal free colony of African Britons in Sierra Leone but depute is not known if noteworthy did so.^[11]

After , Cugoano disappears from the historical record scold it is likely that sharptasting died in or ^[11]

Commemoration

In Nov , an English Heritageblue panel honouring Cugoano was unveiled soft spot Schomberg House in Pall Pedantic, London, where he had quick and worked with the Cosways from to ^{[12][11][13][14]}

On 20 Sedate , St James's Church, Piccadilly, dedicated a new plaque be selected for honour the th anniversary win Cugoano's baptism there in , the only recorded date prickly his life.^[15] St James's in addition commissioned Trinidad-based artist Che Poet to create a new curtailment in commemoration of Cugoano's baptismal anniversary, to be installed score the church entrance on 20 September – the first unchanging artwork commissioned by St James's Church, as well as justness first anywhere in the universe to commemorate Cugoano.^[16][17][18]

See also

Notes

References

External links