How Africans Were Lured into the First Slave Ship’ Jesus of Lubeck
The Jesus of Lübeck was initially a 700-ton sailing vessel built in Lübeck, Germany, in the early 16th century. In 1540, King Henry VIII of England acquired the ship to enhance his fleet, and it saw action during the 1545 French invasion of the Isle of Wight.
However, after sustaining damage, the ship was chartered to John Hawkins by Queen Elizabeth I in 1562, marking the start of its dark involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
John Hawkins’ Slave Trade Expeditions
Hawkins organized four voyages between 1562 and 1568, during which he captured and enslaved hundreds of Africans from West Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, to sell them in the Spanish colonies in the Americas.
His first expedition saw him forcibly take 300 Africans in Sierra Leone, whom he sold to Spanish plantations.
In one account, Hawkins, presenting himself as a devout Christian missionary, preached to the Sierra Leoneans about a god named Jesus.
He convinced those who desired salvation to board his ship, the Jesus of Lübeck. Once aboard, the Africans were imprisoned and transported to the Americas, where they were traded for pearls, hides, and sugar.
The English Slave Trade Triangle
Hawkins played a significant role in establishing the English slave trade triangle, where ships would sail to West Africa, transport enslaved Africans to the Americas, and return to England with goods produced by enslaved labor.
Though others had taken slaves from Africa before him, Hawkins was the first Englishman to profit from this trade on a large scale. His voyages were so lucrative that Queen Elizabeth I provided him with additional ships and supplies for future journeys.
She even granted him a coat of arms depicting a bound African slave, a grim testament to the royal support he enjoyed.
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The Last Voyage of the Jesus of Lübeck
In September 1568, during his final voyage, Hawkins’ fleet encountered a Spanish armada near San Juan de Ulúa, resulting in a fierce battle.
The Jesus of Lübeck was heavily damaged and eventually captured by the Spanish. The ship was later sold to a local merchant, marking the end of its involvement in the slave trade.
Hawkins’ Legacy and the English Role in the Slave Trade
Despite his role in the brutal trade, Hawkins maintained a reputation as a religious man who held daily services aboard his ships.
His cousin, Sir Francis Drake, also accompanied him on several slave-trading expeditions. Hawkins’ involvement in the slave trade set the stage for England’s large-scale participation, which escalated the human suffering of millions of Africans over the following centuries.
The English slave trade officially began in 1562 when Hawkins captured about 300 Africans in Sierra Leone. Over the next five years, Hawkins enslaved between 1,200 and 1,400 Africans through a combination of violence and deceit, often collaborating with corrupt African chiefs to kidnap villagers.
These captives were sold to Spanish colonies, where they were forced into grueling labor on plantations, in mines, and as domestic servants.
Hawkins’ Death and the Continuation of the Slave Trade
John Hawkins died in 1595 off the coast of Puerto Rico while attempting to rescue his son from Spanish captivity.
Although he was succeeded by his son, Sir Richard Hawkins, the English involvement in the slave trade did not end with him.
England continued to enslave Africans well into the 19th century, contributing to the devastation of African societies.
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Modern Reflections and Apologies
In June 2006, Andrew Hawkins, a supposed descendant of John Hawkins, publicly apologized for his ancestor’s involvement in the slave trade.
Kneeling in chains before 25,000 Africans in The Gambia, Hawkins and members of the Lifeline Expedition expressed regret for the actions of their ancestors. This symbolic act of reconciliation was met with a gesture of forgiveness from Gambian Vice-President Isatou Njie Saidy.
The Impact of Hawkins’ Slave Trade
John Hawkins’ slave voyages had devastating consequences for African societies, particularly those in West Africa.
The loss of some of the fittest and most skilled men, women, and children contributed to the long-term weakening of these regions.
The violence and trauma inflicted on African communities during the slave trade continue to have lasting effects today.
Despite the horrific legacy of Hawkins and his fellow slave traders, monuments to Hawkins still stand in his hometown of Plymouth, England.
These memorials starkly contrast the absence of similar recognition for the millions of Africans who suffered and died as a result of the transatlantic slave trade.
While the English slave trade officially ended in 1772, its scars remain evident in the economic and social challenges faced by African nations today.
