Background
Olaudah Equiano was an African writer whose personal experiences with slavery impelled him to become more concerned with the anti-slavery movement.
Before he was kidnapped and put into slavery, he lived a typical African life with his family. Kidnapped at the age of 11 (along with his sister), Equiano was sold to slaveholders and then taken far away from home and was later separated from his sister. Enslaved, Equiano was then transported towards the coastline.
Six months following his kidnap, Equiano was taken to the coast where a slave ship was waiting to pick up more enslaved Africans for overseas work. Equiano was confused and afraid as this was the first time he had ever seen the sea and white men. When he was on board, Equiano was scared and depressed as he endured the inhumane treatment, poor conditions and overall humidity of the slave ship.
When the ship arrived in Barbados, the slaves were examined by potential buyers. During the auction, Equiano witnessed the separation between families and friends. Because Equiano was so young, he remained unsold and was therefore transported to North America. There he was sold to a man named Mr Campbell and was then given jobs on a tobacco plantation in Virginia. In Virginia a man named Michael Henry Pascal convinced Campbell to sell Equiano to him. Pascal then renamed him Gustavus Vassa. With Pascal, Equiano then sailed to England. Whilst on board, Equiano started to learn English and befriended a crew member named Richard Baker. Baker helped Equiano with his English and introduced books to him. He and Equiano were separated and Baker later died at sea.
Upon arrival at Falmouth, Equiano saw many new things (like snow). When England went to war with France, Pascal joined the Royal Navy fleet. He took Equiano with him to serve in key battles of the "Seven Years War." Equiano participated in action at sea. After the war, Equiano was disappointed when he wasn't freed and Pascal sold him back into the West Indian slavery system. His new master, Robert King, made him work as a merchant's assistant. King promised Equiano that he could buy his freedom for £40.
Equiano was then able to buy his freedom and as a freeman he continued to work on board ships, trading across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In 1773, he went on a journey to the Arctic to assist with scientific experiments. In 1773, he also converted to Methodism. By the 1780s, Equiano settled in London. In the 1780s, he also began to write letters to newspapers, protesting against the slave trade. The success of his book, "The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano (or Gustavus Vassa), the African," assisted the abolition movement.
Before he was kidnapped and put into slavery, he lived a typical African life with his family. Kidnapped at the age of 11 (along with his sister), Equiano was sold to slaveholders and then taken far away from home and was later separated from his sister. Enslaved, Equiano was then transported towards the coastline.
Six months following his kidnap, Equiano was taken to the coast where a slave ship was waiting to pick up more enslaved Africans for overseas work. Equiano was confused and afraid as this was the first time he had ever seen the sea and white men. When he was on board, Equiano was scared and depressed as he endured the inhumane treatment, poor conditions and overall humidity of the slave ship.
When the ship arrived in Barbados, the slaves were examined by potential buyers. During the auction, Equiano witnessed the separation between families and friends. Because Equiano was so young, he remained unsold and was therefore transported to North America. There he was sold to a man named Mr Campbell and was then given jobs on a tobacco plantation in Virginia. In Virginia a man named Michael Henry Pascal convinced Campbell to sell Equiano to him. Pascal then renamed him Gustavus Vassa. With Pascal, Equiano then sailed to England. Whilst on board, Equiano started to learn English and befriended a crew member named Richard Baker. Baker helped Equiano with his English and introduced books to him. He and Equiano were separated and Baker later died at sea.
Upon arrival at Falmouth, Equiano saw many new things (like snow). When England went to war with France, Pascal joined the Royal Navy fleet. He took Equiano with him to serve in key battles of the "Seven Years War." Equiano participated in action at sea. After the war, Equiano was disappointed when he wasn't freed and Pascal sold him back into the West Indian slavery system. His new master, Robert King, made him work as a merchant's assistant. King promised Equiano that he could buy his freedom for £40.
Equiano was then able to buy his freedom and as a freeman he continued to work on board ships, trading across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In 1773, he went on a journey to the Arctic to assist with scientific experiments. In 1773, he also converted to Methodism. By the 1780s, Equiano settled in London. In the 1780s, he also began to write letters to newspapers, protesting against the slave trade. The success of his book, "The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano (or Gustavus Vassa), the African," assisted the abolition movement.