The Slaves
François Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture
François Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture (c.1743-1803), a self-educated ex-slave in Haiti who led the first successful slave revolt in 1791, defeating both French and British forces. As a result, Haiti was founded, the only nation to arise from a slave rebellion. In 1802 he was betrayed, and died in prison in France.
Olaudah Equiano
Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-1797), a Nigerian, was transported to Virginia and then the West Indies. Buying his freedom, he settled in England. His autobiography, published in 1789, demonstrated the humanity of Africans as much as the inhumanity of slavery. It caused a sensation and fuelled the growing anti-slavery movement.
Sengbe Pieh
Sengbe Pieh, later known as Joseph Cinqué (1815-c.1879), was captured by Spanish slavers in 1839 in what is now Sierra Leone. In transit to Cuba, he led a mutiny of his fellow-slaves. Picked up by an American warship and tried as runaways, they were acquitted and released. On his return home in 1842 he became a merchant.