The Capture of ''Veloz Passagera'' was a single-ship action that occurred during the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

's anti-slavery

blockade A blockade is the act of actively preventing a country or region from receiving or sending out food, supplies, weapons, or communications, and sometimes people, by military force. A blockade differs from an embargo or sanction, which are leg ...

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

in the early and mid 19th century. The sloop-of-war , of 18 guns, under Captain William Broughton, captured the 20-gun Spanish

slave ship Slave ships were large cargo ships specially built or converted from the 17th to the 19th century for transporting slaves. Such ships were also known as "Guineamen" because the trade involved human trafficking to and from the Guinea coast ...

''Veloz Passagera'', Jozé Antonio de la Vega,

master Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans *Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...

Capture

''Veloz Pasajera'', of 408 tons ( bm), Jayme Tinto, owner, sailed from

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

on 25 August 1828 with a crew of 100 men. She acquired her slaves at Jacquin and sailed on 7 September 1830.Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Database – ''Veloz Pasajera'' voyage #2423.
/ref> ''Primrose'' encountered ''Veloz Passagera'' off Prince's Island,

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, M ...

, in the evening of 6 September 1830. The British attacked early in the morning of 7 September. A severe single-ship action ensued in which the British ultimately boarded ''Veloz Passagera'', capturing her. Forty-three slavers out of 150 were killed in action and another 20 were wounded; the British lost three killed and 12 wounded. The engagement was one of the few fought during several decades of anti-slavery operations off the African coast, and was the most significant in terms of casualties and the strength of the opposing forces. ''Veloz Passagera'' had 556 slaves aboard her when ''Primrose'' opened fire. Five died as a result of the broadsides from ''Primrose'', and another 21 died before the court condemned ''Velos Passagera'' and emancipated the slaves. ''Primrose'' sent ''Veloz Passagera'' to

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierr ...

for adjudication by the Anglo-Spanish Court of Mixed Commission. She arrived on 9 October, and the Court condemned her on 16. The British wanted to try 24 of surviving crew in England with

piracy Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

. Captain Broughton sailed ''Primrose'' back to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

as well, leaving Africa in December to follow up on the court proceedings. He took with him the 24 crew men. However, Lord

Palmerston Palmerston may refer to: People * Christie Palmerston (c. 1851–1897), Australian explorer * Several prominent people have borne the title of Viscount Palmerston ** Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston (c. 1673–1757), Irish nobleman an ...

, the Foreign Secretary, decided that British courts had no jurisdiction and that charges of piracy were not appropriate. He had the 24 men transported to Spain, where they stood trial in 1831. The proceeds of the bounty granted for 551 slaves and a moiety of the hull, etc., were deposited in the Registry of the

High Court of Admiralty Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries, and offences. Admiralty courts in the United Kingdom England and Wales Scotland The Scottish court's earliest ...

on 16 June 1831.

Citations

References

* * {{coord missing, Atlantic Ocean Slavery in Africa Veloz Passagera 1830 in the United Kingdom 19th century in Africa Military history of the Atlantic Ocean Veloz Passagera September 1830 events Anti-slavery military operations Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston