Henry Smithers facts for kids

Number of slave ships sailing from Liverpool 1709-1804

Henry Smithers was an English shipowner, born in 1762 and who died in 1828. He lived in Southwark, London. Henry Smithers was known for being a strong supporter of political change and for working to end the slave trade. He also wrote poems and several books about business and money.

Henry was the son of Joseph Smithers and Martha Keene. He worked with Henry Keene in a business that sold coal in Clink Street.

Henry Smithers and Political Change

Henry Smithers was very active in groups that wanted to change how the government worked. He joined the Society for Constitutional Information, which aimed to spread knowledge about people's rights. He was also involved with the Revolution Society, serving as a leader and secretary. These groups wanted more people to have a say in how the country was run.

In 1802, Henry Smithers helped start the Society of Ship-Owners of Great Britain. This group supported people who owned ships and worked in sea trade. Later, he started a business with his son, John Hampden Smithers. However, their business faced problems and failed in 1815.

Henry Smithers and the Abolition of Slavery

Henry Smithers was a dedicated abolitionist. This means he strongly believed that the slave trade should be stopped and that slavery should be ended. He showed his feelings about this in his book about the city of Liverpool. In this book, he shared facts and numbers that showed how much the slave trade grew during the 1700s. He wanted people to understand the terrible impact of this trade.

Books by Henry Smithers

Henry Smithers wrote several books during his lifetime. These books shared his thoughts on different topics, including his views on society and business.

• (1819) Observations Made During a Residence in Brussels
• (1825) Liverpool, its commerce, statistics, and institutions; with a history of the cotton trade