1787: The fledgling British settlement at Sierra Leone was founded as a refuge for ex-slaves from America and London’s “Black Poor.” Located adjacent to a bu…

1787: The fledgling British settlement at Sierra Leone was founded as a refuge for ex-slaves from America and London’s “Black Poor.” Located adjacent to a busy slave-trading area on the West African coast, the colony faced immediate challenges from the surrounding environment. The presence of the settlement posed a significant temptation for British seamen looking to escape the oppression of the slave trade. Deserters from slaving vessels frequently sought refuge there, often stranding ships ready to sail for the West Indies. This interaction between ex-slaves and European sailors underscored their shared status as victims of the transatlantic labor system.