David Turnbull (abolitionist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Turnbull
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in 1840 in the crowd at the conference
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| Born | 1793 Glasgow
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| Died | 7 May 1851 Paris
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| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Known for | Abolitionism |
David Turnbull (1793–1851) was an important person in the 1800s who worked to end slavery. He was from Scotland. He also served as a British consul in Cuba. Turnbull was a key speaker at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention. This was a big meeting organized by the Anti-Slavery Society. Some people blamed Turnbull for causing a revolt in Cuba. This event led to 1844 being called the Year of the Lash.
Contents
Who Was David Turnbull?
David Turnbull was born in Glasgow in 1793. He became a writer and a diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Turnbull spent his life fighting against slavery. He believed it was a terrible injustice.
Early Life and Work
From 1830, Turnbull worked as a foreign correspondent. He wrote for a newspaper called The Times. He traveled to many European cities. These included Paris, the Hague, and Brussels. In 1832, he went to Madrid, Spain. There, he worked with George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon. Clarendon was the British representative in Spain. Together, they convinced the Spanish government to promise to end slavery. Spain made this promise in 1835.
Turnbull wrote to Lord Palmerston. Palmerston was Britain's top diplomat at the time. Turnbull told him that slavery was "the greatest practical evil that ever afflicted mankind." This shows how strongly he felt about the issue.
Fighting Slavery in Cuba
In 1838 and 1839, Turnbull visited Cuba. At that time, slavery was still legal there. In 1840, he wrote a famous book. It was called Travels in the West: Cuba; with Notices of Porto Rico and the Slave Trade. This book shared his experiences and views on slavery.
In August 1840, Lord Palmerston made Turnbull the British consul to Cuba. A consul helps their country's citizens and promotes trade. Turnbull used his position to continue fighting slavery. However, Cuban authorities expelled him in 1842. They accused him of trying to encourage enslaved people to revolt.
The "Year of the Lash"
In 1844, Cuba experienced a difficult period. It became known as the Year of the Lash. There was a suspected slave revolt called the Conspiración de La Escalera. Cuban authorities blamed Turnbull for starting this plot. They found him guilty even though he was not there. Turnbull was never sent back to Cuba. After this event, many Afro-Cubans faced harsh punishments. Some were imprisoned or forced to leave the island. Turnbull continued his work against slavery until he died in 1851.
See also
In Spanish: David Turnbull (abolicionista) para niños
