Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano - Anti Slavery Activist, Timeline and Life

Violet FieldHome › Central AfricanOlaudah Equiano1745409 views

0 based on 0 rates
Olaudah Equiano Biography Stories 

Olaudah Equiano's Personal Details

Olaudah Equiano was a prominent Black activist who worked hard to put an end to slave trade in Britain and its colonies

InformationDetail
Birthday1745
Died onMarch 31, 1797
NationalityCentral African
FamousAfrican American Authors, African American Slaves, Activists, Anti Slavery Activist
SpousesSusannah Cullen
ChildrensJoanna Vassa
Birth PlaceIgboland
GenderMale
Born inIgboland
Famous asAnti Slavery Activist
Died at Age52

Olaudah Equiano's photo

Who is Olaudah Equiano?

Olaudah Equiano was a prominent Black activist who worked hard to put an end to slave trade in Britain and its colonies. Once a slave himself, Equiano personally experienced the hardship, turmoil, and forbidding treatment meted out to slaves by the Britain’s upper class. The experience left a deep impact on the enslaved Equiano, who even lost his identity to his master as he universally became known as Gustavus Vassa rather than Olaudah Equiano. However, unlike other slaves, Equiano did not participate in field work and rather served his masters personally. Furthermore, his masters were benevolent enough to enable him to learn to read and write. Being an educated slave, Equiano made the most of his knowledge by penning an autobiography, ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’ which depicted the horror of slavery. The book was an instant bestseller and soon gained a cult status amongst the reading class. It led to the creation of a new literary genre that expounded the brutality and inhumanity faced by the slaves. Banking on the popularity gained through the book, Equiano became an activist and worked hard to improve the economic, social and educational conditions in Africa. He was a leading figure of the black group, Sons of Africa that opposed slave trade. He actively contributed in the anti-slavery movement of the 1780s

// Famous Activists

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is a well-known American writer, autistic activist and animal expert. This biography profiles her childhood, life, achievements, career and timeline

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag is an American critical essayist, cultural analyst, novelist, political activist, filmmaker and playwright of international repute. Read on to find out more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline.

Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian is a famous American singer-songwriter and member of the band, ‘System of a Down’. This biography profiles his childhood, music career, life, achievements and timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the region now known as Nigeria. He was the youngest of the seven children born to his parents who belonged to the Igbo tribe.

At the age of 11, while looking after the family compound, he was kidnaped along with his sister. The two were then taken far from their hometown, separated and sold to the local slave traders.

Following a brief period of stay in Africa, Equiano was sold to the European slave traders, who in turn shipped him across the Atlantic to Barbados in the West Indies along with 244 other enslaved Africans. From Barbados, a handful of African slaves including him were sent to the British colony of Virginia.

Later Life

In Virginia, Equiano was bought by Michael Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Pascal gave Equiano the name of Gustavus Vassa, which stayed with him for the better part of his lifetime.

Domestic slaves in Virginia were treated brutally by their owners. Often iron muzzle was employed to keep the slaves quiet. The state of Equiano was no less.

Equiano accompanied his master to England where he served as a valet in the Seven Years’ War against France. Additionally, Pascal trained him in seamanship so that the latter could assist the ship crew in the times of battle. His duty included hauling gunpowder to the gun decks.

Impressed by Equiano dutiful obedience, Pascal shipped him to his sister-in-law in Great Britain with the intention that young Equiano would be able to attend school and learn to read and write.

Upon reaching Great Britain, Equiano was converted to Christianity. Mary Guerin and her brother, Maynard, cousins of his master Pascal, served as his godparents. In February 1759, he was baptized in St Margaret's, Westminster. Mary and Maynard helped young Equiano learn English.

Following British victory in war, Equiano hoped to be free, as promised by his master. However, Pascal did not conform to his word and instead sold Equiano to Captain James Doran of the Charming Sally at Gravesend.

His new master, Captain James Doran transported Equiano back to the Caribbean, in the Leeward Islands. Therein, he found a new master in Robert King, an American Quaker merchant from Philadelphia who traded in the Caribbean

Under the new master, Equiano worked on shipping routes and in stores. It was King who augmented Equiano’s knowledge by teaching him to write and read fluently.

In 1765, King promised to set Equiano free if the latter paid him 40 pounds, price that he paid to purchase Equiano. To set himself free, Equiano engaged in profitable trade, selling fruits, glass tumblers, and other items between Georgia and the Caribbean islands. Two years later, in 1767, he finally bought back his freedom

In 1767, upon setting himself free, Equiano travelled to England. He continued to work in the sea, travelling as a deckhand based in England.

In 1773, he befriended Dr. Charles Irving, the man who developed a process to distil seawater. The two started a business of selecting and managing slaves. Though the business eventually failed, the friendship between the two thrived.

Equiano did not limit his life to work only. Instead, he started learning the French horn and expanded his knowledge by joining the debating societies, including the London Corresponding Society.

In 1780s, he settled in London and became a Methodist. He actively involved himself in the abolitionist movement that intended to end the slave trade for good. Together with Granville Sharp, a fellow abolitionist, he publicized the Zong massacre.

Following the end of American Revolutionary War in 1783, Equiano involved himself in re-establishing the Black Poor of London along with Black Loyalists from Nova Scotia in Freetown, a new British colony founded on the west coast of Africa. However, following his protests against financial mismanagement, he was dismissed and eventually returned to London.

Stimulated by the overwhelming support and encouragement by fellow abolitionists, Equiano agreed to pen his life story and publish the same. Financially supported by philanthropic abolitionists and religious benefactors, he started penning his autobiography.

In 1789, he released his autobiography ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African’. The book caused a sensation on publication and served as an impetus to the growing anti-slavery movement in Britain. It gave details of his life before slavery, his captivity, the brutality that slaves went through, his adoptive religion and the risk of enslavement that free blacks faced.

His book was widely appreciated and was so much in demand that it went through nine publications in his lifetime. Being the first slave narrative, it led to the commencement of a new genre in English literature. Critics praised the book as it skilfully demonstrated the inhumanity of slavery.

Following his efforts to reinstate the status of blacks and the publication of his autobiography, Equiano gained a reputed status in the high society of London. He became a leading spokesperson for the black community and one of the members of the free-Africans abolitionist group, Sons of Africa. His speeches, comments and articles were frequently published in newspapers

Major Works

The highpoint in Equiano’s life came with the publication of his autobiography, ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’. The first slave narrative, it gave a personal account of Equiano’s enslaved life. The book gave a detailed explanation of the pitiable state of slaves and the inhumaneness faced by them. Widely read, the book went through nine publications in his lifetime and was highly in demand. It played an instrumental role in the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 which abolished slave trade legally.

Personal Life & Legacy

Olaudah Equiano married Susannah Cullen on April 7, 1792, in St Andrew's Church in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Anna Maria and Joanna.

He breathed his last on March 31, 1797 a year after his wife Susannah Cullen who passed away in February 1796. His eldest daughter, Anna Maria too died in 1797 leaving Joanna as the legitimate heir to Equiano's estate.

Posthumously, in 1996, The Equiano Society was formed to celebrate the life and work of Olaudah Equiano.

// Famous African American Slaves

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner truth was an African American abolitionist who was the first black woman to win a case against a white man. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Madam C. J. Walker

Madam C. J. Walker

Madame C.J Walker was an entrepreneur and philanthropist of African-American descent. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, profile, career & timeline

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was an American scientist and inventor. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements and timeline.

Olaudah Equiano biography timelines

  • // 1745
    Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the region now known as Nigeria. He was the youngest of the seven children born to his parents who belonged to the Igbo tribe.
  • // Feb 1759
    Upon reaching Great Britain, Equiano was converted to Christianity. Mary Guerin and her brother, Maynard, cousins of his master Pascal, served as his godparents. In February 1759, he was baptized in St Margaret's, Westminster. Mary and Maynard helped young Equiano learn English.
  • // 1765 To 1767
    In 1765, King promised to set Equiano free if the latter paid him 40 pounds, price that he paid to purchase Equiano. To set himself free, Equiano engaged in profitable trade, selling fruits, glass tumblers, and other items between Georgia and the Caribbean islands. Two years later, in 1767, he finally bought back his freedom
  • // 1767
    In 1767, upon setting himself free, Equiano travelled to England. He continued to work in the sea, travelling as a deckhand based in England.
  • // 1773
    In 1773, he befriended Dr. Charles Irving, the man who developed a process to distil seawater. The two started a business of selecting and managing slaves. Though the business eventually failed, the friendship between the two thrived.
  • // 1783
    Following the end of American Revolutionary War in 1783, Equiano involved himself in re-establishing the Black Poor of London along with Black Loyalists from Nova Scotia in Freetown, a new British colony founded on the west coast of Africa. However, following his protests against financial mismanagement, he was dismissed and eventually returned to London.
  • // 1789
    In 1789, he released his autobiography ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African’. The book caused a sensation on publication and served as an impetus to the growing anti-slavery movement in Britain. It gave details of his life before slavery, his captivity, the brutality that slaves went through, his adoptive religion and the risk of enslavement that free blacks faced.
  • // 7th Apr 1792
    Olaudah Equiano married Susannah Cullen on April 7, 1792, in St Andrew's Church in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Anna Maria and Joanna.
  • // 31st Mar 1797
    He breathed his last on March 31, 1797 a year after his wife Susannah Cullen who passed away in February 1796. His eldest daughter, Anna Maria too died in 1797 leaving Joanna as the legitimate heir to Equiano's estate.

// Famous African American Authors

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner truth was an African American abolitionist who was the first black woman to win a case against a white man. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey

A famous American talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey is most renowned for ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. To know more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

August Wilson

August Wilson

August Wilson is a Pulitzer Prize winning play writer, who is known to have authored the ten play series, The Pittsburgh Cycle. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, profile, life and timeline.

Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a renowned African-American Sunni Muslim civil rights activist. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, profile, career and timeline

Richard Wright

Richard Wright

Richard Wright was one of the most acclaimed African-American authors. Read this biography to learn more about his childhood, profile, life and timeline.

Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells

Ida Bell Wells-Barnett was an African-American journalist, suffragist and a civil rights activist. This biography profiles her childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline

Olaudah Equiano's FAQ

  • When was Olaudah Equiano died?

    Olaudah Equiano was died at 1797-03-31

  • Where was Olaudah Equiano died?

    Olaudah Equiano was died in Middlesex

  • Which age was Olaudah Equiano died?

    Olaudah Equiano was died at age 52

  • Where is Olaudah Equiano's birth place?

    Olaudah Equiano was born in Igboland

  • What is Olaudah Equiano nationalities?

    Olaudah Equiano's nationalities is Central African

  • Who is Olaudah Equiano spouses?

    Olaudah Equiano's spouses is Susannah Cullen

  • Who is Olaudah Equiano childrens?

    Olaudah Equiano's childrens is Joanna Vassa

  • How famous is Olaudah Equiano?

    Olaudah Equiano is famouse as Anti Slavery Activist