James Forten

James Forten (1766–1842), an African-American abolitionist and business man, was born a free man in Philadelphia. At the age of 14, he joined the navy to serve on the Royal Lewis in the Revolutionary War, where he invented a device to handle ship sails. He was apprenticed as a sailmaker and became a foreman in 1786, and later owned his own company.

Related Topics:
1766 - 1842 - African-American - Philadelphia - Revolutionary War

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Forten became an advocate of temperance, women's suffrage and equal rights for African-Americans. James Forten and Richard Allen formed the Convention of Color in 1817. The organization argued for the settlement of escaped black slaves in Canada but strongly opposed plans for repatriation to Africa. Forten specifically opposed the British policy of resettling black veterens of the Revolutionary War in Sierra Leone. With the help of Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, he enlisted 2500 Blacks to guard Philadelphia during the War of 1812. William helped his friend William Lloyd Garrison form the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833 and contributed to his newspaper, the Liberty.

Related Topics:
Temperance - Women's suffrage - Richard Allen - Sierra Leone - Absalom Jones - War of 1812 - William Lloyd Garrison - American Anti-Slavery Society

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Forten's daughter, Harriet, married Robert Purvis, and his daughter, Margaretta, was an officer of the Female Anti-Slavery Society in Philidelphia in 1845. His grandaughter, Charlotte Forten Grimké was a antislavery activist, poet, educator and abolitionist.

Related Topics:
Robert Purvis - Female Anti-Slavery Society - Charlotte Forten Grimké - Poet - Educator

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