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showing 229 library results for '1839'

Britain's war against the slave trade : the operations of the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron, 1807-1867 /Anthony Sullivan. "Long before recorded history, men, women and children had been seized by conquering tribes and nations to be employed or traded as slaves. Greeks, Romans, Vikings and Arabs were among the earliest of many peoples involved in the slave trade, and across Africa the buying and selling of slaves was widespread. There was, at the time, nothing unusual in Britain's somewhat belated entry into the slave trade, transporting natives from Africa's west coast to the plantations of the New World. What was unusual was Britain's decision, in 1807, to ban the slave trade throughout the British Empire. Britain later persuaded other countries to follow suit, but this did not stop this lucrative business. So the Royal Navy went to war against the slavers, in due course establishing the West Africa Squadron which was based at Freetown in Sierra Leone. This force grew throughout the nineteenth century until a sixth of the Royal Navy's ships and marines was employed in the battle against the slave trade. Between 1808 and 1860, the West Africa Squadron captured 1,600 slave ships and freed 150,000 Africans. The slavers tried every tactic to evade the Royal Navy enforcers. Over the years that followed more than 1,500 naval personnel died of disease or were killed in action, in what was difficult and dangerous, and at times saddening, work. In Britain's War Against the Slave Trade, naval historian Anthony Sullivan reveals the story behind this little-known campaign by Britain to end the slave trade. Whereas Britain is usually, and justifiably, condemned for its earlier involvement in the slave trade, the truth is that in time the Royal Navy undertook a major and expensive operation to end what was, and is, an evil business."--Provided by the publisher. 2020. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 306.362
Ben Line / Graeme Somner. A definitive history and fleet list of the Ben Line founded in 1839 by brothers William and Alexander Thomson. Originally carrying coal and textiles from Leith to Italy and marble on the return journey, the brothers moved into carrying coal to Canada and timber on the return journey and this regular trade route quickly became the basis of their business for many years. The business was registered as William Thomson and Co. This history covers the company's move from sail to steam, and the expansion of the company's trade routes to include the Far East and Baltic, and the practice of naming its vessels after Scottish mountains. By the 1970s, the company was expanding into ship management, bulk carriers and offshore drilling and by 1977 owned four container ships, 13 cargo liners, three chemical tankers, one bulk carrier and five rigs and drill ships. Facing increased competition from containerisation and the decline in bulk trade the container ships were sold off by 1993, the cargo liners broken up or sold by 1982, and the bulk carriers and tankers sold by 1989. The rigs and drill ships were sold in the early 1990s. Ben Line Steamers Ltd and many of the subsidiaries were wound up in 2002. The Ben Line name continues in Asia as Ben Line Shipping Agencies Ltd. The fleet lists are organised chronologically and cover ships owned or managed by William Thomson and Co, Ben Line Steamers Ltd, Ben Line Ship Management Ltd (1973-1987) and Benmarine Ltd (1987-1993), vessels owned by W A C Thomson and rigs and drill ships. The book is also indexed by vessel name and is illustrated throughout with photographs. 2009. • FOLIO • 2 copies available. 347.792BEN