William Vernon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Vernon
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William Vernon's Home, Newport, Rhode Island
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| Born | January 17, 1719 |
| Died | December 22, 1806 (aged 87) |
| Burial place | Vernon Cemetery Newport, Rhode Island |
| Occupation | Merchant and slave trader |
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William Vernon (born January 17, 1719 – died December 22, 1806) was a very important merchant from Newport, Rhode Island. He was involved in the Atlantic slave trade, which was a sad part of history where people were bought and sold. During the American Revolution, William Vernon played a big role in helping the Continental Congress build and manage its ships. He was also a founding member of the Artillery Company of Newport. The famous Vernon House in Newport is named after him.
Who Was William Vernon's Family?
William Vernon was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1719. His father, Samuel Vernon, was a silversmith. William's family was connected to Anne Hutchinson, one of the first settlers in Rhode Island.
William had two brothers. His older brother, Thomas, worked as a royal postmaster in Newport. Thomas was a Loyalist, meaning he supported the British during the Revolution. He even had to leave Newport for a while.
Unlike Thomas, William and his other older brother, Samuel, supported the American Revolution. They were both members of the Second Congregational Church in Newport. William married Judith Harwood, and they had two sons, Samuel and William.
A Merchant and Slave Trader
William and his brother Samuel started a business together. They became well-known merchants, trading goods between New England and the West Indies. They shipped things like rum, molasses, flour, and leather to places like Halifax, Boston, and Philadelphia.
In 1737, the Vernon brothers became involved in the Atlantic slave trade, also known as the "triangle trade." This trade involved three main steps:
- Ships from the colonies would go to Africa with rum.
- They would buy enslaved people in Africa and take them to the West Indies or North America to be sold.
- With the money they made, they would buy molasses and bring it back to the colonies to make more rum, starting the cycle again.
The Vernons became very active in this trade in Newport. They financed over 40 voyages to West Africa to buy enslaved people. They even started selling enslaved Africans directly to the southern colonies like South Carolina. This shows how important Rhode Island was in the American slave trade during that time.
The Ship Royal Charlotte
One of the ships the Vernons used was called the Royal Charlotte. It made at least two voyages to West Africa to transport enslaved people. In 1763, a newspaper reported an uprising by enslaved people on board the ship during its 1762 voyage. After this, the remaining enslaved people were brought to Rhode Island to be sold. An advertisement described them as "extreme fine, healthy and well limbed Gold Coast Slaves."
Later, in 1776, the British took control of the Royal Charlotte in Newport harbor.
Helping the American Revolution
William and Samuel Vernon were early supporters of the American Revolution. William's political views were well known, so he had to leave Newport when the British took over in 1776. He moved to Rehoboth, Massachusetts to keep his family safe. His nephew stayed at the Vernon House to protect it. The Vernon House later became the headquarters for French General Comte de Rochambeau, and even George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette visited there.
On May 6, 1777, the Continental Congress chose William Vernon to be the president of the Continental Naval Board. This was a very important job, almost like being the first Secretary of the Navy for the United States. In this role, Vernon was in charge of building and preparing ships for the Continental Navy throughout the American Revolution.
William Vernon was very dedicated. He even used some of his own money to help the war effort, even though he might not get it back. After the Revolution, he continued to work with naval matters before returning to Newport.
Cato Vernon's Freedom
On March 17, 1778, an African man named Cato Vernon, who had been enslaved by William Vernon, joined the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. This regiment was one of the first to include African American soldiers during the Revolution.
After the Revolution
After the American Revolution, William Vernon continued to be an important person in Newport. He was the president of the Redwood Library and helped start the Newport Bank in 1803. He also supported the College of New Jersey, which is now Princeton University.
Sadly, William Vernon and his family continued to be involved in the Atlantic slave trade even after the Revolution, until at least 1799.
William Vernon's Death
William Vernon passed away on December 22, 1806. He is buried in the Vernon Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. His home, the Vernon House, is now a very important historical landmark.
William Vernon's Children
- Samuel Vernon Jr. (May 29, 1757 – 1834)
- He was a successful merchant in Newport and became one of its wealthiest citizens. Samuel Jr. was the first president of the Newport Bank. He also fought as a volunteer in the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.
- William H. Vernon Jr. (March 6, 1759 – 1833)
- William Jr. graduated from Princeton University in 1776. He spent many years as the Secretary of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. He loved French culture and even visited the court of King Louis XVI in Paris, where he helped Benjamin Franklin. When his father died, William Jr. used his inheritance to buy a large collection of famous paintings, which was one of the first important art collections in America.
See also
- Vernon House
- Abraham Redwood
- Aaron Lopez
