Henry Dampier (died 17 October 1771) was an English merchant, politician, and slave trader in Bristol, England during the 18th century. He was elected Sheriff and eventually Mayor of Bristol. Dampier was involved in the Society of Merchant Venturers for decades and is known for having traded in slaves during the Atlantic Slave Trade.[1]
Henry Dampier | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. early 18th century Bristol, England |
| Died | 17 October 1771 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation(s) | Merchant, High Sheriff of Bristol, Mayor of Bristol |
| Years active | 1728–1743 |
| Known for | Slave trading |
Early life
editHenry Dampier was born sometime in the early 18th century, in the city of Bristol, England.[2] Dampier gained influence from a long-established merchant, James Day, who was responsible for guiding Dampier into the business of slave trading. Dampier and Day were related by marriage. Through this connection, Dampier was able to foster close relations with a prominent local merchant. His reputation and connections encouraged others to invest in his company.[3] In 1726, Dampier became a member of the Royal African Company.[4]
Career
editDampier began his involvement in the Atlantic Slave Trade in 1728; his last voyage was in 1743. In the decade and a half after 1730, Dampier was among 20 merchants that dominated the port's trade to Africa.
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 in the Caribbean including Jamaica, but also to the British colonies of 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 1,317 slaves or 18 percent died during their voyage. On average 292.1 slaves were embarked per voyage and 241.4 disembarked per voyage.[5]
| Vessel Name | Slave Pick-up Point | Destination | Number of Slaves | Number 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 |
Dampier became a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers on 17 October 1728 through his apprenticeship with Day.[6] In 1736, he was declared a junior warden and in 1750 became master of the Society of Merchant Venturers.[7] Dampier was elected a High Sheriff of Bristol in 1737 and then again in 1751, and became Mayor of Bristol in 1755.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ 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) - ^ 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 17 November 2017.
- ^ "Search The Voyages Database". www.slavevoyages.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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. p. 329.
henry dampier master of merchant ventures.
- ^ Latimer, John (1893). The Annals of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century. author. p. 541.
Henry Dampier.
- ^ "Search The Voyages Database". www.slavevoyages.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2017.