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April 22, 2017

Capture of the Anne Richardson by H.M.S. Pluto, 1850

The presence of American ships in the slave trade increased significantly in the mid-nineteenth century. Not only did the American flag protected slavers from being intercepted by British naval ships, but several slavers from Portugal, Brazil, and other countries imported and used ships built in the United States in their activities. The image shows H.M.S. Pluto capturing the Anne Richardson, a ship flying American colors, off the coast of Africa.
The Illustrated London News, 6 July 1850. Courtesy of University of Missouri Libraries.

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