European merchants ordinarily moor their ships outside…

1840 CE to 1851 CE

European merchants ordinarily moor their ships outside harbors or in the Niger Delta because of the hazards of climate and disease for Europeans and the absence of any authority responsive to their interests on the mainland; they use the ships as trading stations and warehouses.

In time, however, they build depots onshore and eventually move up the Niger River to stations established in the interior, like that at Onitsha, where they can bargain with local suppliers and purchase products likely to turn a profit.

Some European traders switch to legitimate business only when the commerce in slaves becomes too hazardous.

Disreputable as many of the traders had been, they often suffer from the precariousness of their position and are at the mercy of what they consider to be unpredictable coastal rulers.

Accordingly, as the volume of trade increases, the British government responds to repeated re- quests of merchants to appoint a consul to cover the region.

As a consequence, John Beecroft is accredited in 1849 as consul for the bights of Benin and Biafra, a jurisdiction stretching from Dahomey to Cameroon.

Beecroft is the British representative to Fernando Po, where the British navy's prevention squadron is stationed.

Locations
Onitsha Anambra Nigeria View →

Groups
Igbo people View → Hausa Kingdoms, the View → Hausa people View → Yoruba people View → Ijaw people View → Kano (Hausa city state) View → Zaria (Zazzau), Hausa City-State of View → Katsina (Hausa city state) View → Gobir (Hausa city state) View → Benin Empire View → Ibibio people View → Bonny, Ijo city-state of View → Oyo Empire View → Calabar, Efik state of View → Dahomey, Kingdom of View → Khasso, Fulani Jihad State View → Aro Confederacy View → Fouta Djallon (Futa Jallon) Fulani Jihad State View → Fouta-Toro, or Futa Toro, Fulani Jihad State of View → Elem, Ijo city-state of View → Equatorial Guinea, Spanish colony of View → United States of America (US, USA) (Washington DC) View → Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) View → Fulani Empire View → Nupe, Emirate of the View → Freetown (Sierra Leone), British Crown Colony of View → Sokoto, Kingdom of View → Macina (Masina), Fulani Jihad State of View → Spain, Bourbon Kingdom (first restoration) of View → Denmark, Kingdom of View → France, constitutional monarchy of View → Zaria, Emirate of View → Oyo, Yoruba Kingdom of View →

Topics
Sub-Saharan Africa, Modern View → West African Blockade View →

Commodities
Weapons View → Oils, gums, resins, and waxes View → Slaves View →

Subjects
Commerce View → Conflict View → Faith View → Government View → Custom and Law View →

Regions

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Location: San Antonio de Palé Annobón Equatorial Guinea
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