William Boats facts for kids

William Boats (1716-1794) was a powerful merchant from Liverpool, England. He was involved in the historical trade of enslaved people. Boats was responsible for 157 voyages that transported enslaved Africans across the ocean. More than half of these people were taken from the Bight of Biafra (a part of the West African coast) to Jamaica in the Caribbean.

William Boats: A Liverpool Merchant

William Boats owned parts of at least 156 ships. These ships were often called "Guineamen" because they sailed to the Guinea coast of Africa. A book about Liverpool's history tells a story about Boats's early life. It says he was found as a child in a boat and then went to a special school called a Blue Coat School.

He learned about sailing and eventually became the captain of a ship. Over time, he grew to be one of the most important merchants and shipowners in Liverpool. The book also mentions that he married a woman named Ms. Brideson. It claims he once captured a Spanish ship filled with gold and other valuable items. When he died at 78, a Liverpool newspaper described him as a "most useful member of society."

Innovations in Shipping

William Boats was known for being the first person involved in the slave trade to use a special method for his ships. He had his ships covered with copper. This copper sheathing helped protect the wooden ships. It stopped tiny sea creatures, called wood-boring parasites, from damaging the ship's hull. This made the voyages safer and more efficient for his business.