Thomas Cumming
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cumming was an American
merchant of the 18th century who built up a large commercial empire in West Africa. He is the best known for the role he played in the 1758 Capture of Senegal
in which he submitted a plan to the British war leader William Pitt
which advocated an attack on France's valuable but ill-defended African colonies.
Cumming was born in New York
, and raised as a Quaker, something which later earned him the nickname of the "fighting quaker".
and Gambia
rivers. He advocated to William Pitt, the Southern Secretary an expedition to seize these valuable settlements.
Pitt agreed to despatch a force in 1758 which in April arrived of West Africa. Cumming had gone ahead to meet with local African leaders to try and gain their support for the British attack. He was successful, and a number of African troops assisted the British in capturing the settlement of Saint Louis
which fell without firing a shot.
Cumming made a fortune in captured goods which were brought back to London. Particularly valuable were the large amounts of gum arabic
which were used by silk-weavers. Pitt was impressed enough to send two further expeditions which led to the capture of the island of Goree
and the French trading station on the Gambia.
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
merchant of the 18th century who built up a large commercial empire in West Africa. He is the best known for the role he played in the 1758 Capture of Senegal
Capture of Senegal
The Capture of Senegal took place in 1758 when a British military expedition landed and captured the French settlement of Saint-Louis, Senegal during the Seven Years War.-Background:...
in which he submitted a plan to the British war leader William Pitt
William Pitt
William Pitt is most likely to refer to:* William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham , Prime Minister of Great Britain 1766–1768; often known as William Pitt the Elder...
which advocated an attack on France's valuable but ill-defended African colonies.
Cumming was born in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and raised as a Quaker, something which later earned him the nickname of the "fighting quaker".
Capture of Senegal
Cumming had travelled to West Africa extensively, and was aware of the enormous wealth and future potential of the French colonies along the SenegalSénégal River
The Sénégal River is a long river in West Africa that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania.The Sénégal's headwaters are the Semefé and Bafing rivers which both originate in Guinea; they form a small part of the Guinean-Malian border before coming together at Bafoulabé in Mali...
and Gambia
Gambia River
The Gambia River is a major river in West Africa, running from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward through Senegal and The Gambia to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul...
rivers. He advocated to William Pitt, the Southern Secretary an expedition to seize these valuable settlements.
Pitt agreed to despatch a force in 1758 which in April arrived of West Africa. Cumming had gone ahead to meet with local African leaders to try and gain their support for the British attack. He was successful, and a number of African troops assisted the British in capturing the settlement of Saint Louis
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
which fell without firing a shot.
Cumming made a fortune in captured goods which were brought back to London. Particularly valuable were the large amounts of gum arabic
Gum arabic
220px|thumb|right|Acacia gumGum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal...
which were used by silk-weavers. Pitt was impressed enough to send two further expeditions which led to the capture of the island of Goree
Gorée
Île de Gorée Île de Gorée Île de Gorée (i.e. "Gorée Island"; is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "commune of arrondissement") of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is a island located at sea from the main harbor of Dakar ....
and the French trading station on the Gambia.