Before the Bombardment of Algiers
Aug 26, 1816
A landing party of HMS Prometheus sneak into Algiers in an attempt to rescue the British consul, his wife and their infant son. They are captured by held by soldiers of the Dey of Algiers.
EditLocation: North Africa
The Bombardment of Algiers
Aug 27, 1816
A joint force of British and Dutch ships attack Algiers in order to try and stop them kidnapping and enslaving europeans.
EditLocation: North Africa
After the Bombardment
Sep 24, 1816
The Dey of Algiers accepts the British conditions and releases the British Consul and 1083 other Christian slaves. Over 3000 Christian slaves were released later, although the Islamic Slave trade continued.
EditLocation: North Africa
Charles Austen joins HMS Aurora
Jun 02, 1826
Captain Charles Austen is appointed second in command of HMS Aurora and send to Jamaica to take part in the anti-slavery patrols. The intercept several slavers taking slaves to the United States and to the Spanish colonies in Caribbean.
EditLocation: West Indies
HMS Aurora is Paid Off
Dec 1828
HMS Aurora is paid off
EditLocation: Britain
HMS Growler is Launched
Jul 20, 1841
HMS Growler is launched. She is a First Class Sloop with a wooden hull and paddle wheels to supplement her sails. She was dispatched to the west coast of Africa to be used in the anti-slavery patrols under Commander Claude Henry Mason Buckle
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Ardent is Commissioned
Jul 24, 1841
HMS Ardent is commissioned under Commander John Russell and sent to the South America and African stations
EditLocation: West Africa
Morrell is Given HMS Espoir
May 25, 1843
Commander Morrell is given command of HMS Espoir, a wooden Brig-sloop. He is then sent to the coast of Africa to take part in the anti-slavery patrols.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Growler Chases a Slaver
May 27, 1843
HMS Growler chases a suspected slaver, but is unable to catch her
EditLocation: West Africa
Young is Given HMS Hydra
Aug 07, 1843
HMS Hydra is recommissioned at Woolwich under the command of Commander Horatio Beauman Young.
EditLocation: Britain
HMS Hydra Captures a Slaver
Jun 06, 1844
HMS Hydra captures a Spanish slave-vessel Cyrus
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Growler Captures a Slaver
Jul 21, 1844
HMS Growler captures a Spanish slaver the Brigantine Veterano
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hyacith Captures a Slaver
Aug 12, 1844
HMS Hyacith's gig captures a a slaver equipped to hold 1000 slaves and take it as a prize
EditLocation: Atlantic
Belgrave joins HMS Eclair
Aug 30, 1844
Lieutenant Thomas Belgrave joins HMS Eclair on the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
Harris is Given HMS Flying Fish
Sep 07, 1844
Commander Harris is given command of HMS Flying Fish. She is initially part of the experimental brig squadron and then sent to the west coast of Africa as part of the West Africa Squadron to take part in the anti-slavery patrols.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Growler Captures Another Slaver
Sep 23, 1844
HMS Growler captures the Spanish slave schooner Concepcion
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hyacinth Captures a Pirate Ship
Nov 23, 1844
HMS Hyacinth detained a suspicious looking craft and discovered several captured British guns on board as well as several British prisoners. The ships and its crew was sent to trial, but there was not enough evidence of wrong doing so they had to be set free.
EditLocation: Atlantic
Letter From Ascension
Dec 02, 1844
Commander young sends a letter from Ascension Island
EditLocation: Atlantic
Morrell is Given HMS Tortoise
Dec 06, 1844
Commander Morrell takes command of HMS Tortoise a stores ship located at Ascension Island in the South Atlantic
EditLocation: Atlantic
Attack on Pinnace
Jan 12, 1845
Lieutenant Lodwick is cruising off the west coast of Africa in a pinnace despatched from HMS Growler in order to look for slavers. She sees a Felucca, which hove to when it saw the pinnace. The Lieutenant took this to mean that she would surrender without a fight, however when he got within 30 yards the slavers suddenly appear with their muskets.
The Lieutenant called on his men to try and get to the Felucca before they could open fire, but no sooner had his men cheered this order and the slavers on the Felucca opened fire on them. They riddled the boat with shot, with one ball going through the rim of Lieutenant Lodwick's hat. He returned fire with the pinnace's gun, using both round shot and grape.
Their next volley hit him on the left knee and thigh, and struck down two of his men. The volley also damaged their oars allowing the slaver to get away.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Ardent Captures a Slaver
Mar 25, 1845
HMS Ardent captures the Spanish slaver Dos Hermanos off the Pongo River
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures Hurrican
Mar 30, 1845
HMS Hydra captures the Felucca that had attacked the pinnace from HMS Growler.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures Pepita
Apr 08, 1845
HMS Hydra captures the felucca Pepita in a night chase.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures a Slave Brig
Jul 31, 1845
HMS Hydra captures a slave brig called Africano with 589 slaves on board. She was sent to Sierro Leone under Lieutenant H G Gray so that the slaves could be set free, and the ship adjudicated for prize money.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Ardent is Paid Off
Sep 1845
HMS Ardent returns to Britain to be paid off
EditLocation: Britain
HMS Growler Returns to Britain
Nov 06, 1845
Commander Buckle is promoted to Captain when HMS Growler returns to Britain to be paid off after her patrols on the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: Britain
Archibald Mcmurdo is Promoted
1846
Archibald McMurdo is made the Captain of HMS Contest as part of the West African squadron that was tasked with the suppression of the slave trade.
EditLocation: West Africa
Powell is Given HMS Kingfisher
Apr 1846
Lieutenant Powell is made the Acting Commander of HMS Kingfisher on the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
Slaver Run Aground
Apr 17, 1846
HMS Flying Fish chases a slaver ashore, but then tragedy strikes as when they attempt to salvage the prize
EditLocation: West Africa
Dyke is Given HMS Flying Fish
May 19, 1846
Commander Dyke is given command of HMS Flying Fish and sent to the west coast Africa to take part in the anti-slavery patrols as part of the West Africa Squadron
EditLocation: West Africa
Trading on the Cameroon River
Aug 29, 1846
HMS Hydra escorts a trade mission up the Cameroon River. She had a cargo of muskets, powder and a quantity of cotton bales, as well as two handsome coats covered with gold lace for the kings ruling that region. They agreed a trade of ivory, but before leaving one of the kings asked for a cup of naval rum "to keep his insides warm".
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures Another Slaver
Sep 13, 1846
HMS Hydra captures a Brazilian slaver called Amelia
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures a Slaver
Sep 30, 1846
HMS Hydra captures a Brazilian slaver called Isabel and freed 352 slaves
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Runs Aground
Oct 29, 1846
HMS Hydra ran aground on a sand bar. They removed her 68-pounder and her 32-pounder carronade to try and lighten her, and eventually gets free.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Goes Up the Bonny
Oct 30, 1846
HMS Hydra is piloted up the Bonny to negotiate a trade dispute
EditLocation: West Africa
Morrell is Given HMS Hydra
Nov 1846
Command of HMS Hydra is transferred from Commander Young to Commander Commander Arthur Fleming Morrell on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic
EditLocation: Atlantic
Young is Made Captain
Nov 09, 1846
Commander Young is promoted to Captain while in the South Atlantic
EditLocation: Atlantic
HMS Hydra Goes to the Bimbia River
Nov 18, 1846
HMS Hydra accompanied by HMS Styx take up a position off the river Bimbia having been given a tip off that there was a slaving trading encampment there, only to find that it was in fact a settlement of Baptist missionaries.
EditLocation: West Africa
Letter From HMS Hydra
Mar 06, 1847
The Captain of HMS Hydra writes a letter home about the treatment of slaves
EditLocation: West Africa
Napier Appointed C in C of the Western Squadron
May 19, 1847
Charles Napier is appointed the Commander-in-Chief of the western squadron patrolling the western Atlantic to counter the Riff pirates who were capturing ships and enslaving everybody on board close to their home ports on the shores of Morocco.
EditLocation: North Africa
HMS Flying Fish Goes to St Helena
Sep 16, 1847
HMS Flying Fish arrives in St Helena from Java
EditLocation: Atlantic
Count Bomfim Captured
Sep 17, 1847
Count Bomfim and his sons had escaped from Angola but HMS Flying Fish had over taken their vessel and restored them to their jailers
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Flying Fish Arrives in Loanda
Sep 28, 1847
HMS Flying Fish arrives in Loanda. Captain Dyke tells the British Consul there what had happened and a message is sent to the Governor-General of Angola to inform him that they had captured Count Bomfim.
EditLocation: West Africa
Count Bomfim Given to Portuguese
Sep 30, 1847
A message from the Governor-General of Angola reaches HMS Flying Fish informing them that he claimed Count Bomfim. The Count asked to appeal to the British consul, but before he could be rowed out to HMS Flying Fish the prisoners were transferred over to the Portuguese warships.
EditLocation: West Africa
Commander Skipwith is Given HMS Hydra
Dec 02, 1847
HMS Hydra is recommissioned under Commander Grey Skipwith. She is then sent to the south-east coast of America to patrol the seas for slavers.
EditLocation: South America
Buckle is Given HMS Centaur
Jan 01, 1849
HMS Centaur was the flagship of Commodore Arthur Fanshawe on the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures a Slaver
Mar 02, 1849
HMS Hydra under Commander Grey Skipwith captures a very valuable slaver off Rio.
EditLocation: South America
Uniao Taken as Prize
Mar 03, 1849
A prize crew is sent to the slaver Uniao to take her back to Demerara
EditLocation: South America
HMS Hydra Captures Another Slaver
Jul 14, 1849
HMS Hydra captures the slave vessel Fidalga off the coast of South America
EditLocation: South America
Uniano is Sold for Scrap
Jul 28, 1849
The brig Uniano is sold for scrap as she had been a slaver
EditLocation: South America
Patey is Given HMS Flying Fish
Aug 11, 1849
Commander Patey is given command of HMS Flying Fish and sent to the west coast of Africa as part of the anti-slavery patrols
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Hydra Captures Another Slaver
Dec 15, 1849
HMS Hydra sighted a slave brig and captures her rescuing the slaves on board
EditLocation: South America
Buckle is Invalided
1850
He then returns to Britain in order to recover.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Wasp is Commissioned
May 28, 1850
HMS Wasp is commissioned under Commander William Pearson Crozier and sent to the West African coast as part of the Royal Navy's anti-slavery patrols.
EditLocation: Britain
HMS Hydra Helps to Capture a Slaver
Jun 13, 1850
HMS Hydra takes part in the capture of a notorious slaver off the coast of South America.
EditLocation: South America
HMS Flying Fish Captures a Prize
Nov 02, 1850
HMS Flying Fish captures her seventh prize of that commission
EditLocation: West Africa
Prize Money
Jan 31, 1851
Prize money is awarded to the crew of HMS Hydra for their capture of a slaver
EditLocation: South America
HMS Hydra Captures Another Slaver
Apr 15, 1851
HMS Hydra captures a slaver off the coast of South America
EditLocation: South America
HMS Flying Fish Returns to Britain
Dec 06, 1851
HMS Flying Fish arrives at Plymouth on her return to Britain for paying off
EditLocation: Plymouth
Commander Crozier is Invalided
Mar 13, 1852
Commander Crozier is invalided on the west coast of Africa and sent back to Britain
EditLocation: West Africa
Bonham is Given HMS Wasp
Apr 1852
Acting-Commander Bonham takes command of HMS Wasp on the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
Pritchard is Given HMS Wasp
Aug 1852
Command of HMS Wasp transfers to Samuel Pritchard who remains in command until she returns to Britain.
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Cumberland Arrives in Havannah
Mar 18, 1853
HMS Cumberland arrives in Havannah to investigate reports of slave trading
… more EditLocation: Caribbean
Prize Money Distributed
Aug 03, 1853
The Prize money for the capture of the Pepita is distributed to the crew of HMS Flying Fish
EditLocation: Britain
More Prize Money Distributed
Aug 29, 1853
The prize money was awarded to the crew of HMS Flying Fish for the capture of a brig. This was a slaver that had been captured on the 14th of July 1851. This is now lodged with the court of the admiralty and ready for the crew to collect.
EditLocation: Britain
Burgoyne is Promoted to Lieutenant
Jan 11, 1854
Hugh Burgoyne is promoted to Lieutenant and appointed to HMS Britomart on the West Coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
Buckley is Promoted to Commander
May 24, 1856
Cecil Buckley is promoted to Commander in HMS Merlin on the West Coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
Commander Cave is Given HMS Ardent
Nov 12, 1857
Command of HMS Ardent is given to Commander John Halliday Cave and she is sent off to patrol the West Coast of Africa again as part of the navy's ongoing anti-slavery operations.
EditLocation: West Africa
Sickness in West Africa
1858
The west coast of africa was a notoriously unhealthy environment. Out of HMS Ardent's crew of 150 there were 238 cases of sickness serious to get recorded, and 10 of them were serious enough to require them to be invalided back to Britain.
EditLocation: West Africa
Hamilton is Given HMS Hydra
Jun 04, 1858
Commander Hamilton is given command of HMS Hydra and sent to west Africa as part of the anti-slavery patrols
EditLocation: West Africa
Hewett is Promoted to Commander
Sep 13, 1858
William Hewett is promoted to Commander and appointed to HMS Viper on the West Coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
HMS Ardent Returns to Britain
Apr 07, 1859
HMS Ardent returns to Britain
EditLocation: Britain
George Day joins HMS Firefly
Sep 20, 1859
George Day joins HMS Firefly on the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
Beamish is Given HMS Wrangler
May 15, 1860
HMS Wrangler is given to Commander Henry Hamilton Beamish and sent to the west coast of Africa
EditLocation: West Africa
The Clotilda Reaches Mississippi
Jul 1860
The Clotilda reaches the coast of Mississippi and becomes the last ship to have transported slaves from Africa to the USA. The ship was burned in order to hide the evidence that it had been involved in illegally importing slaves. Cudjoe Lewis and the other slaves were dispersed in order to hide them from the authorities who were already looking to prosecute Timothy Meaher who had arranged for Foster to buy them.
EditLocation: usa