The Danish Slave Trade and Its Abolition

Copyright

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

List of Illustrations, Diagrams and Tables

Abbreviations

Part 1: The Danish Slave Trade

1 Introduction

The Danish Slave Trade

2 Volume and Composition of the Slave Trade and the Trade Cargoes

Slave Trade Cargoes

Profitability

3 Transatlantic Slave Trade Shipping

Vessels

Sailing Routes

Other Routes

Duration of Triangular Voyages

Nutrition

Mortality

Slave Rebellions

4 Slave Trade in the Danish West Indies and in Asia

Transit Trade

Slave Population

Agriculture

Profits in Denmark

Danish Slave Trade in Asia

Part 2: Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade

5 Prelude in Denmark Prior to 1792

6 Ernst Schimmelmann

Heinrich Carl Schimmelmann

Ernst Schimmelmann’s Career

Private Economic Interests

Family

Evening of Life

General Characterization

7 The Slave Trade Commission and Its Report, 1791

The Danish Political System

Ernst Schimmelmann’s Letter, 18 June 1791

Ernst Schimmelmann’s Aide-memoire to the Commission, 16 July 1791

Royal Resolution, 5 August 1791

The Members of the Commission

The Course of the Commission’s Work

The Report of the Commission, 28 December 1791

Background

Slave Trade in Africa

Shipping

Numbers of Slaves

Mortality

Slaves from the Danish Settlements

Commodities

In the West Indies

Slave Demography

Discussion of the Report’s Demographic Section

Measures Towards Improvement

Economy

Private Ownership Rights

Education

Marriages

Legislation

New Slaves

Conclusions and Recommendations

Settlements in Africa

8 The Abolition Edict, 1792

Royal Resolution, 24 February 1792

The Board of Customs’ Royal Proposal, 13 March 1792

Christopher Hansteen’s Minority Statement, 14 March 1792

Royal Resolution, 16 March 1792

The Abolition Edict, 16 March 1792

The Development of Particular Regulations

9 Transitional Period, 1792–1802

The Abstract of the Report Published by Kirstein

Reactions in Denmark

Reactions in England

Reactions in the Danish West Indies

Slave Loans and Further Developments in the Danish West Indies

Abolition or Extension of the Interim Period

10 Developments after 1803

The Slave Trade Question after 1 January 1803

Slave Trade after 1 January 1803

11 Conclusion

Part 3: Sources

The Slave Trade Commission’s Report, 28 December 1791

Appendix A to the Report: Specification of Ships Departed from the Gold Coast

Appendix B to the Report: Slaves Bought at Danish Settlements on the Gold Coast, 1777–89

Appendix C to the Report: Danish Slave Trade Cargo, about 1790

Appendix D to the Report: Number of Negroes on Saint Croix, 1780–90

Appendix E to the Report: Negroes on Saint Croix Plantations Indebted to the King, Listed by Gender

Appendix F to the Report: Negroes on Saint Thomas and Saint John Plantations Indebted to the King, Listed by Gender

Appendix G to the Report: Negroes on Plantations on Saint Croix Belonging to Count von Schimmelmann’s Family Trust

Appendix H to the Report: Negroes on Plantations on Saint Croix Belonging to Count von Schimmelmann’s Family Trust, Listed by Gender

The Abolition Edict, 16 March 1792: Danish National Archives, Collection of Printed Ordinances

Bibliography

Index