Historical Figure

Paul Cuffee is best known for his efforts in trying to make Sierra Leone a colony of America. He believed that Sierra Leone would be a place for African Americans to build a society of their own. In this society he envisioned blacks reaping the benefits of liberties and opportunities; a reality that did not exist in America at the time.

Paul Cuffee pondered on a mass emigration of slaves to Sierra Leone after watching his own success as a black man in the late 1700s born free in Massachusetts. His freedom allowed him to own his own vessel and work in a whaling ship where he learned navigation skills. He thought that the same freedom granted to him would be granted to all African Americans in a colony of their own.

After building support on his idea for an American colony in Sierra Leone he launched a trip there. When he arrived it became clear that Cuffee was trying to change the culture of the indigenous Sierra Leoneans after making the impression that once he left they would return to their heathen ways. Furthermore, on his departure of the colony it is said that he warned the people to not defer from his lessons on behavior.

When Cuffee returned to the United States he informed President James Madison of his idea of making Sierra Leone a colony of America. The President denied Coffee’s attempt at having it done.