David Turnbull (British abolitionist)
Encyclopedia
David Turnbull was a leading 19th century abolitionist and a British consul to Cuba
. Turnbull, a Scotsman, was a key participant at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention of the Anti-Slavery Society
.
In a letter he wrote to Lord Palmerston that year, Turnbull argued that slavery was "the greatest practical evil that ever afflicted mankind."
Turnbull had spent the latter part of 1838 and early 1839 travelling in Cuba (where slavery remained legal) and in 1840 he produced his best known work, Travels in the West: Cuba; with Notices of Porto Rico and the Slave Trade. In August 1840, Lord Palmerston—the British foreign secretary at the time—named Turnbull the British consul to Cuba. Cuba expelled him in 1842 after he was accused of attempting to incite slave revolt. In 1844—the so-called Year of the Lash
in Cuban history—there was apparently an aborted slave revolt known as the Conspiración de La Escalera. Cuban authorities convicted Turnbull in absentia
of being the "prime mover" of the conspiracy but Turnbull was never extradited. After revelations about the revolt, thousands of Afro-Cubans
(both slave and free) were executed, imprisoned, or banished from the island. Turnbull remained active in the abolitionist movement until his death in 1851.
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...
. Turnbull, a Scotsman, was a key participant at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention of the Anti-Slavery Society
Anti-Slavery Society
The Anti-Slavery Society or A.S.S. was the everyday name of two different British organizations.The first was founded in 1823 and was committed to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Its official name was the Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery Throughout the...
.
In a letter he wrote to Lord Palmerston that year, Turnbull argued that slavery was "the greatest practical evil that ever afflicted mankind."
Turnbull had spent the latter part of 1838 and early 1839 travelling in Cuba (where slavery remained legal) and in 1840 he produced his best known work, Travels in the West: Cuba; with Notices of Porto Rico and the Slave Trade. In August 1840, Lord Palmerston—the British foreign secretary at the time—named Turnbull the British consul to Cuba. Cuba expelled him in 1842 after he was accused of attempting to incite slave revolt. In 1844—the so-called Year of the Lash
Year of the Lash
Year of the Lash is a term used in Cuba in reference to 1844. In that year the Spanish colony was wracked by accusations of a planned slave revolt known as the Conspiración de La Escalera...
in Cuban history—there was apparently an aborted slave revolt known as the Conspiración de La Escalera. Cuban authorities convicted Turnbull in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
of being the "prime mover" of the conspiracy but Turnbull was never extradited. After revelations about the revolt, thousands of Afro-Cubans
Afro-Cubans
The Afro-Cubans were a latin jazz band founded by Machito in 1940; often billed as Machito and his Afro-Cubans. Their musical director, and an important musical innovator, was Mario Bauza, Machito's brother-in-law....
(both slave and free) were executed, imprisoned, or banished from the island. Turnbull remained active in the abolitionist movement until his death in 1851.
Further reading
- Turnbull, David. Travels in the West: Cuba; with Notices of Porto Rico and the Slave Trade. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1840.
External links
- Travels in the West (Selection from Turnbull's book)