1792-Mar.-15: Bermuda emerged as a critical node in the Caribbean maritime network, where “masterless people” and news often circumvented official colonial b…

1792-Mar.-15: Bermuda emerged as a critical node in the Caribbean maritime network, where “masterless people” and news often circumvented official colonial borders and censorship. Bermuda underscored its role as a sanctuary for runaway slaves and a hub for black mariners who brought news of the Haitian Revolution to the North American coast. British authorities in Bermuda struggled to regulate the movement of small vessels known as Droggers, which were frequently manned by enslaved sailors. This mobility was viewed by colonial officials as a direct threat to the internal security of the entire Atlantic slave system. Bermuda thus functioned as a significant gateway for revolutionary ideas to enter the broader British Empire.