Capture of the Veloz Passagera
Encyclopedia
The Capture of Veloz Passagera was a single ship action that occurred during the United Kingdom
's blockade
of Africa
in the early and mid 19th century. Royal Navy
sloop-of-war
HMS Primrose, of eighteen guns, under Captain
William Broughton
, captured the much larger twenty gun Cuba
n slave ship
under Master
Jozé Antonio de la Vega.
, in the day, near Prince's Island on 7 September 1830. A severe engagement ensued and the British successfully captured the hostile vessel. Forty-three slavers out of 150 were killed in action and another twenty were wounded while the Royal marines and sailors lost three killed and twelve wounded. The engagement was one of the few fought during several decades of anti-slavery operations off the African coast and the most significant in terms of casualties and the strength of the opposing forces. Veloz Passagera had a cargo of 555 slaves aboard her and her surviving crew was charged with piracy
in England
. On 6 Jun 1831 account of proceeds of the bounty granted for 551 slaves and a moiety of the hull, etcetera, were deposited in the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty on 16 June. The Veloz was sent for adjudication by the British and the Spanish
Mixed Court of Justice in Sierra Leone
and on 16 Oct 1830 she was sentenced to be condemned. Captain Broughton sailed the Primrose back to England
as well, leaving Africa in December to follow up on the court proceedings.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's blockade
Blockade of Africa
The Blockade of Africa began in 1807 when Britain outlawed the Atlantic slave trade, making it illegal for British ships to transport slaves. The Royal Navy immediately established a presence off Africa in order to enforce the ban, called the West Africa Squadron...
of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in the early and mid 19th century. Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
sloop-of-war
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
HMS Primrose, of eighteen guns, under Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
William Broughton
William Broughton
William Broughton may refer to:*William Broughton , first Anglican bishop of Australia*William Broughton , British naval officer who explored parts of the Pacific Ocean...
, captured the much larger twenty gun Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n slave ship
Slave ship
Slave ships were large cargo ships specially converted for the purpose of transporting slaves, especially newly purchased African slaves to Americas....
under Master
Master
Master or Masters are terms denoting some kind of rank or status, and may refer to:-Ranks and titles:* Master craftsman in the Medieval guilds* Master , a title...
Jozé Antonio de la Vega.
Capture
The Primrose encountered the Veloz Passagera off West AfricaWest Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, in the day, near Prince's Island on 7 September 1830. A severe engagement ensued and the British successfully captured the hostile vessel. Forty-three slavers out of 150 were killed in action and another twenty were wounded while the Royal marines and sailors lost three killed and twelve wounded. The engagement was one of the few fought during several decades of anti-slavery operations off the African coast and the most significant in terms of casualties and the strength of the opposing forces. Veloz Passagera had a cargo of 555 slaves aboard her and her surviving crew was charged with piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. On 6 Jun 1831 account of proceeds of the bounty granted for 551 slaves and a moiety of the hull, etcetera, were deposited in the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty on 16 June. The Veloz was sent for adjudication by the British and the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Mixed Court of Justice in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and on 16 Oct 1830 she was sentenced to be condemned. Captain Broughton sailed the Primrose back to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as well, leaving Africa in December to follow up on the court proceedings.