1696-1810: By the mid-eighteenth century, Liverpool had ascended to become the largest slaving port in Europe as the transatlantic traffic reached its absolu…

1696-1810: By the mid-eighteenth century, Liverpool had ascended to become the largest slaving port in Europe as the transatlantic traffic reached its absolute peak. Its pre-eminence was driven by its strategic location on the west coast of England and the extensive range of markets its vessels served across the plantation Americas. Liverpool captains were notably successful in forming close commercial relations with African trading elites in major ports such as Bonny and Old Calabar. This expertise and focus allowed Liverpool to outpace earlier hubs like Bristol and London in the volume of captives carried.