George Glas facts for kids

George Glas (1725 – 30 November 1765) was a Scottish sailor and merchant who explored parts of West Africa. He was known for his efforts to set up a new trading post for Britain.

Early Life and Voyages

George Glas was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1725. His father was John Glas, a religious leader. George was trained as a surgeon, but he chose a life at sea.

He became the captain of a ship. This ship sailed between Brazil, the northwest coasts of Africa, and the Canary Islands. These voyages helped him learn a lot about the seas and lands he visited.

A New Trading Idea

During his travels, Glas found a river along the coast of Western Sahara. This river could be sailed far inland. He thought it would be a great place to build a trading station. The exact spot is not fully known today. Some believe it was near a place called Gueder.

Glas believed this new trading post would be very useful for Britain. He made a deal with the Lords of Trade, who were important British government officials. They promised him £15,000 if he could get the local people to give this port to the British crown. This plan was going to be discussed in the British Parliament in 1765.

Building Port Hillsborough

In 1764, Glas set sail for Africa with his wife and daughter. He reached the spot he had found and made an agreement with the local Moors. He named his new settlement Port Hillsborough. This name honored Wills Hill, who was the Earl of Hillsborough. The Earl was in charge of the Board of Trade and Plantations at the time.

In November 1764, Glas left his ship. He took a smaller boat to Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. He wanted to buy a small boat that could sail easily on the river at his new settlement. From Lanzarote, he sent the agreement for Port Hillsborough to London.

Trouble with the Spanish

Just a few days later, the Spanish captured Glas. They took him to Tenerife and put him in prison in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Glas wrote a letter from prison in December 1764. He believed the Spanish were worried about his new settlement. They feared that if there was a war, the British at Port Hillsborough could harm their fishing and trade in the Canary Islands.

The Spanish also thought the settlement was a first step for Britain to take over their islands. They even tried to create fake old documents to prove they owned the port.

In March 1765, the people at Port Hillsborough faced an attack from local groups. Several members of Glas's crew were killed. The survivors, including Glas's wife and daughter, managed to escape to Tenerife.

Return Journey and Tragedy

In October 1765, the British government helped Glas get out of prison. He, his wife, and his child began their journey back to England. They sailed on a ship called the Earl of Sandwich.

On November 30, 1765, a sad event happened. Some sailors on the ship, who had learned that the ship carried valuable goods, took control of the vessel. They harmed the captain and other passengers. George Glas was killed during this event. The people responsible were later caught and faced justice in Dublin.

Some historians believe that the famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson might have used parts of the Glas family's story to create his novel Treasure Island. Stevenson grew up near a church in Edinburgh that was connected to Glas's family. After George Glas's death, the British government did not continue with his plan for Port Hillsborough.

His Book on the Canary Islands

In 1764, George Glas published a book in London. It was called The History of the Discovery and Conquest of the Canary Islands. He had translated this book from an old handwritten document by an Andalusian monk named Juan Abreu de Galindo. Glas found this document in La Palma.

Glas also added his own information to the book. He described the islands, continued their history, and wrote about the customs, trade, and daily life of the people living there. This showed he knew a lot about the archipelago.