Joseph Denman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Denman
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|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1810 |
| Died | 26 November 1874 (aged 64) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1823 - 1866 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Wanderer Pacific Station |
Joseph Denman was a British naval officer who lived from 1810 to 1874. He became famous for his important work fighting against the slave trade. He commanded a ship called HMS Wanderer as part of the West Africa Squadron. This special group of ships worked to stop the illegal trade of enslaved people.
Contents
Early Life
Joseph Denman was born on June 23, 1810. His father was Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman. His father was a very important judge and also a strong supporter of ending slavery. People who wanted to end slavery were called abolitionists.
Military Career
Joseph joined the Royal Navy on April 7, 1823. He quickly moved up in rank. He became a Lieutenant in 1831 and a Commander in 1835.
In 1834, Lieutenant Denman was in charge of a captured slave ship called Maria da Gloria. He first sailed it to a special court in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This court decided it could not handle the case because the ship was Portuguese. So, Denman had to sail the ship all the way back across the Atlantic Ocean. He took it to another court in Sierra Leone, Africa.
During this long journey, many of the enslaved people on board suffered greatly. Out of about 400 people, 78 died. The others became very sick. Denman later told the British Parliament about this terrible experience. He said he had "witnessed the most dreadful sufferings that human beings can endure."
On December 26, 1836, Commander Joseph Denman took command of HMS Scylla. He stayed in charge of this ship until November 17, 1839.
Fighting the Slave Trade
In 1839, Denman took command of HMS Wanderer. This ship was part of the West Africa Squadron. This squadron worked to stop ships involved in the slave trade.
On April 5, 1840, the Wanderer's smaller boats captured an American slave ship called Eliza Davidson. This ship was later officially seized by a British and Spanish court in Sierra Leone. On May 12, Denman captured another ship, the Josephina. It was a Portuguese schooner designed for the slave trade. He also captured other slave ships, including the São Paolo de Loando and the Maria Rosaria.
In 1840, Denman did something very important. While trying to free two British people, he also made a special agreement with the Gallinas tribe. This agreement helped to end the slave trade in their area. He also freed 841 enslaved people. At the same time, he destroyed the barracoons (large buildings where enslaved people were held) along the river.
The British Navy was very happy with his actions at first. They promoted him to Captain in August 1841. A powerful leader, Lord Palmerston, said that destroying the slave depots was like "Taking a wasp’s nest…is more effective than catching the wasps one by one."
However, some Spanish slave traders sued Denman for damages. By 1842, the Navy changed its rules. It stopped the anti-slavery squadron from blocking rivers and destroying property.
When Denman returned to England, he had to wait for the court case to finish. He spent his time writing a guide for naval officers. This guide was called Instructions for the Guidance of Her Majesty’s Naval Officers Employed in the Suppression of the Slave Trade. It helped other officers become better at stopping the slave trade.
Captain Joseph Denman was known as one of the most successful and dedicated officers in the West Africa Squadron. Many people believe he made the squadron much more effective. In 1848, the court case against him ended. The court decided that Denman was acting on behalf of the British government. This meant he was following official policy when he destroyed the barracoons. So, he was not personally responsible for damages.
Later Life and Career
Joseph Denman continued his naval career. He became a Rear Admiral and was in charge of the Pacific Station from 1864 until he retired in April 1866. After retiring, he was promoted to Vice Admiral. He passed away on November 26, 1874.
Family
On February 12, 1844, Denman married Grace Watts-Russell. She was the youngest daughter of Jesse Watts-Russell. Grace passed away in London in 1902. Joseph's brother, George Denman, was also a famous person. He was a politician and a High Court judge.
Legacy
- Denman Island, located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, is named after him.
- Denman Street in Vancouver, Canada, is also named in his honor.
See also
