Opposing the Slavers: The Royal Navy’s Campaign against the Atlantic Slave Trade

Description

Much is known about Britain s role in the Atlantic slave trade during the eighteenth century but few are aware of the sustained campaign against slaving conducted by the Royal Navy after the passing of the Slave Trade Abolition Act of 1807. Peter Grindal provides the definitive account of this little known yet important part of the British, European and American history. Drawing on original sources to provide a comprehensive and engaging narrative of the naval operations against slavers of all nations in particular Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Brazil, he describes how illegal traders sought to evade treaty obligations, reveals the obduracy of the USA that prolonged the slave trade, and shows how, despite inadequate resources, the Royal navy s sixty year campaign forced slavers to expend ever greater sums top conduct their business and confront the losses inflicted by capture and condemnation. A work that will transform our understanding of the Royal Navy s campaign against the Atlantic slave trade." List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Foreword Preface Prologue · The Beginning of a Great Matter Part One · The Trade Chapter 1 · Three Centuries of Transatlantic Slaving Chapter 2 · The Realities of the Trade Chapter 3 · The Slave Coasts and Seas Part Two · The Suppression Campaign Chapter 4 · Confused First Steps, 1807–11 Chapter 5 · The Tip of the Iceberg, 1811–15 Chapter 6 · Into a Legal Minefield, 1815–20 Chapter 7 · The Most Evident Falsehoods, 1820–4 Chapter 8 · A Lonely Furrow: Eastern Seas, 1824–8 Chapter 9 · Tenders and Tablecloths: Eastern Seas, 1828–31 Chapter 10 · Gallant Pinpricks: Western Seas, 1824–31 Chapter 11 · To the Cape Station: Eastern Seas, 1831–5 Chapter 12 · An Uncertain Sound: Western Seas, 1831–5 Chapter 13 · The Spanish Equipment Clause: Eastern Seas, 1835–8 Chapter 14 · Obduracy and Obfuscation: Western Seas, 1835–8 Chapter 15 · High-Handed Action: Eastern Seas, 1838–9 Chapter 16 · Forbearance Exhausted: Western Seas, 1838–9 Part Three · Conclusion Summary · Taking Stock Epilogue · Until It Be Thoroughly Finished Guide to Abbreviations used in the Notes, Bibliography and Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Glossary Endnotes Bibliography General Index Index of Naval Personnel Index of Naval Vessels Index of Places