-
Olaudah Equiano was born
Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in the Eboe province of Africa, which is now Nigeria. He was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters. -
Kidnapped and held Captive
At the age of 11, Equiano and his sister were kidnapped and held captive for 6 to 7 months. -
Goes onto slave-ship
Equiano was placed on a slave-ship, with approximately 250 other slaves, which travelled across the horrific Middle Passage. It first arrived at Barbados for two weeks. After, in 1757, the slave-ship arrived at Virginia, an English colony. -
Arrive in Virginia and was purchased
When they arrived, Equiano watch all his fellow slaves get purchased until he was the last one remaining. At last, a man purchased Equiano for 40 pounds as a gift for his friends. This man turned out to be Captain Michael Henry Pascal of the British Royal Navy, who renamed Equiano to Gustavus Vassa, the Swedish King. Equiano protested by after being beaten, preferring to be called “Jacob”, but finally gave in to his new name. Then Equiano and Baker boarded a ship for England. -
Arrives in England
As a slave of a naval ship, Equiano would learn much about seamanship, especially as he was travelling with Pascal during the Seven Years War with France. He would assist the ship such as hauling gunpowder. Equiano was quite afraid of the English men aboard the ship. However, he met Richard Baker, a young English man who he soon made friends with, until Baker died two years later. Thirteen weeks after boarding the ship, Equiano arrived at England. -
Stays at Pascal's relatives' home
He stayed with the Guerin family (relatives with Pascal) in Blackheath and there, he learned how to read and write and do arithmetic, while also attending church to learn more about God. If he wasn’t at home, he would be travelling with Pascal on warships and trading vessels. -
Does not become free and is resold
Despite Pascal’s promise for Equiano’s freedom, Equiano wasn’t released. In 1763, he was sold to Captain James Doran, who took him to Montserrat, in the West Indies. There, he was sold again to Robert King, the island’s leading merchant, sailing with his master between the Caribbean and North America. -
Earns freedom
Despite being a slave, he used any commercial opportunities to earn money. In 1766, he bought his freedom for 40 pounds. -
Equiano is officially a free man
As a free man, he spent his time doing many things. He travelled around the world to places such as the Arctic, Mediterranean and the Atlantic. After, he returned to England and worked with Granville Sharpe and Thomas Clarkson in the “Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade”. Equiano would travel to the Caribbean where he tried to comfort other slaves. Equiano was almost captured, being tied up, but later escaped away on a canoe. -
Works in the "Sons of Africa" group
In 1786, he worked in the “Sons of Africa’, a group of 12 African men, which promoted the movement to abolish slavery through speeches and letters. -
Works to improve conditions on slave-ships
In 1788, he led a delegation in the House of Commons to improve conditions on slave ships. -
Equiano publishes autobiography
In 1789, he wrote his autobiography, “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”, which became a bestseller and was translated into many languages. -
Marries Susan Cullen
In 1792, he met Susan Cullen, who he married with and had two children. -
Equiano dies
Equiano died in his home on the 31st March, 1797. It would be forty years later before slavery was abolished in the British colonies.
