Life of Olaudah Equiano free essay sample

Aloud Equation was born in 1 745, in now what is known as Nigeria, but back then was known as the region inhabited by the Gobo people. He was one of 7 children, the youngest of 6 boys, and he also had one younger sister. Source 1, Quinoas autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Aloud Equation or Gustavo Vass the African, which tells the story of how he was kidnapped at a young age, possibly 1 1, from the Gobo village of Essay in the region of Benign, where he had grown up.From here he endured the Middle Passage to the New World, where he was forced to into slave labor. This Ewing said, some writers, however, claim that Equation was born in colonial South Carolina and not in Africa. Source 2, is a map that shows the route of Quinoas many travels throughout his long career that was said to be 8 years, at sea. We will write a custom essay sample on Life of Olaudah Equiano or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It clearly demonstrates that he was unusually well-traveled for his time. He stated in his autobiography that he was passed from owner to owner in Africa, and was eventually sold to a slaver bound for Barbados.Here he was reconditioned, after experiencing the traumatic experience of the Middle Passage. He was then purchased to work as a slave on a plantation in Virginia, where conditions tended to be much more humane than in the sugar colonies. This was said to be the first of several fortunate turns of fate. Equation was first renamed Gustavo Vass by his English master Mr. Campbell, however within a year; he had been sold again and was now in the hands of a British Naval officer, Michael Henry Pascal. Source 2, a map of Quinoas travels, As Equation traveled with Pascal to England, he found himself in a situation that would give him the ability to become educated in the seafaring life and gain other valuable life skills. In his autobiography, he called that as well as learning the basics of seamanship from Pascal, l had long wished to read and write and for this purpose took every opportunity to gain instruction. Both of these endeavourers, proved to serve him very well. Hence sources 1 and 2 show, Equation served Pascal and, though still s slave, attainted the rating of able seaman.He voyaged to many places such as Italy, Greece, and points east. He was also present at major naval battles during the seven years (French and Indian) war. When the war concluded in 1762, he was sold again, this time to a slave trader bound for the West Indies. This is where Equation carried out his new masters business (which including selling slaves), while managing to buy and sell trade goods for his own account. While Equation himself was treated fairly well, he could not help but take in the terrible mistreatment of the slaves in this region. It was very common in several of the islands For slaves to be branded with the initial letters of their masters name, and a load of heavy iron hooks hung about their necks. Indeed on the most trifling occasions they were loaded with chains, and often instruments of torture were added, he wrote. L have seen a negro beaten till some Of his bones were broken for even letting a pot boil over. Equation earned 40 pounds from his private business ventures and, in 1766 was then was able to purchase his freedom.He returned to London and learned a new trade that of a hairdresser. Not long after, he decided that going to sea would be a more lucrative, if more dangerous, profession. During the next part of his life, Equation would add to his considerable seafaring resume. In 1733 he signed on with British expedition of Captain Constantine Phipps to earache for a northeast passage through the Arctic Ocean, recalling years later that l was roused by the sound of fame to seek new adventure, and to find towards the North Pole, what our Creator never intended we should, a passage to India. In the Arctic, Equation reported that we saw many very high and curious mountains of ice; and also a great number of very large whales, which used to come close to our ship and blow the water up to a v ery great height in the air. Quinoas final trading voyage, to Jamaica was in 1777, following this he returned to London to stay. By this time anti slavery managing were strengthening and he chose to devote his considerable energies to that cause.Equation became a major voice for abolishing both the transatlantic trade and chattel slavery wherever it existed. Not long after he wrote Surely this traffic cannot be good, which spreads like a pestilence, and ATA nuts what it touches! Which violates that first natural right of mankind, equality and independence, and gives one man dominion over his fellow which God could never intend! Quinoas autobiography received 9 printing editions, before his death that occurred in 1797.