Zong massacre: 54 Africans murdered for insurance
November 29th, 1781
November 29th, 1781

How Long Ago?
243 years, 3 months, 15 days ago
Location
Bahamas, Atlantic Ocean
Category
Crime & Law
People
- Granville Sharp
- Olaudah Equiano
- Luke Collingwood
Links & References
Tags
Zong massacre: 54 Africans murdered for insurance
The crew of the British slave ship Zong decided to murder 54 enslaved Africans by throwing them into the sea. This brutal act was committed to claim insurance against loss of cargo during the slave voyage from Africa to the West Indies. The incident occurred due to a shortage of provisions and was calculated to maximize compensation under the ship's insurance policy. The captains justified their actions by claiming the Africans were overboard due to illness, leading to legal proceedings and public outrage.
54 Africans thrown overboard for insurance money.
Legal battle followed to challenge insurance claims.
Event led to increased abolitionist activism.
Highlighted moral issues within the slave trade.
What Happened?
The Zong was an English slave ship that was part of the transatlantic slave trade during the late 18th century. In November of 1781, while en route from Africa to Jamaica, the crew found themselves in a dire situation with dwindling supplies of food and water. Faced with a growing number of sick enslaved Africans on board, and fearing financial loss from the deteriorating condition of these captives, the ship's captain, Luke Collingwood, along with his crew, made the horrific decision to jettison prisoners into the sea. This resulted in the death of at least 54 Africans. The crew subsequently sought to claim insurance for the loss of these individuals, asserting they had drowned due to hazardous conditions at sea. This claim sparked a legal battle that cast a glaring spotlight on the morality of the slave trade and the treatment of enslaved people. The trial that followed brought about intense public scrutiny and outrage, particularly from abolitionist figures such as Granville Sharp and Olaudah Equiano, who campaigned against the inhumanity exhibited by slave traders like those aboard Zong.
Why Does it Matter?
The mass murder of the Africans on board the Zong is often considered one of the catalysts for the abolition movement in Britain. This shocking incident raised awareness of the brutal realities of the transatlantic slave trade among the general public and led to increased advocacy for the rights of enslaved individuals. This incident revealed the lengths to which slave traders would go for profit, emphasizing the need for legal and moral reform, ultimately contributing to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833.
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