Alexander Falconbridge
Encyclopedia
Alexander Falconbridge was a British surgeon
on four voyages in slave
ships between 1780 and 1787 before meeting the anti-slavery campaigner, Thomas Clarkson
and becoming a member of the Anti-Slavery Society
(ASS). After meeting Thomas Clarkson
, he published in 1788 An Account of the Slave Trade on the Coast of Africa, an influential book in the abolitionist
movement. In his book he talked about the trade from when the ships first acquired African captives from the African coast, through the treatment of the captives during the middle passage, to the time they were sold into hereditary bondage in the West Indies.
In 1790 he declared before a House of Commons Committee. In 1791, he was selected by the Anti-Slavery Society
to sail to Sierra Leone
with his wife Anna Maria
, with the intent of reorganising the failed settlement of freed slaves in Granville Town. However, Anna Maria did not share his idealistic views about the settlement.
The colony was a failure. Falconbridge was dismissed and died of drink shortly afterwards.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
on four voyages in slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
ships between 1780 and 1787 before meeting the anti-slavery campaigner, Thomas Clarkson
Thomas Clarkson
Thomas Clarkson , was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended British trade in slaves...
and becoming a member of the Anti-Slavery Society
Anti-Slavery Society
The Anti-Slavery Society or A.S.S. was the everyday name of two different British organizations.The first was founded in 1823 and was committed to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Its official name was the Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery Throughout the...
(ASS). After meeting Thomas Clarkson
Thomas Clarkson
Thomas Clarkson , was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended British trade in slaves...
, he published in 1788 An Account of the Slave Trade on the Coast of Africa, an influential book in the abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
movement. In his book he talked about the trade from when the ships first acquired African captives from the African coast, through the treatment of the captives during the middle passage, to the time they were sold into hereditary bondage in the West Indies.
In 1790 he declared before a House of Commons Committee. In 1791, he was selected by the Anti-Slavery Society
Anti-Slavery Society
The Anti-Slavery Society or A.S.S. was the everyday name of two different British organizations.The first was founded in 1823 and was committed to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Its official name was the Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery Throughout the...
to sail to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
with his wife Anna Maria
Anna Maria Falconbridge
Anna Maria Norwood was born in Bristol, England, in 1769. She married Alexander Falconbridge, a prominent abolitionist, in 1788.In 1791, she accompanied her husband to Sierra Leone, in a failed attempt to reorganize the settlement of freed slaves in Granville Town...
, with the intent of reorganising the failed settlement of freed slaves in Granville Town. However, Anna Maria did not share his idealistic views about the settlement.
The colony was a failure. Falconbridge was dismissed and died of drink shortly afterwards.