The Creole Mutiny 1841

The US brigantine Creole, carrying 134 black slaves from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to New Orleans, was seized by the slaves during the voyage in November 1841. One white crewman was killed during the mutiny, lead by the African-American Madison Washington (fl. 1840s). The ship was sailed to the British port of Nassau in the Bahamas, where the British refused to hand over the ship or slaves, despite angry protests by the owners and American southerners. Ignoring the precedent set by the Amistad Mutiny case, US secretary of state Daniel Webster (1782-1852) demanded the return of the slaves because they were the property of US citizens. By British law, all the slaves were freed, except those who actually participated in the mutiny, who were charged with murder and imprisoned. In 1855, after the case was finally settled by arbitration between the two countries, Britain awarded $110,330 to the US in compensation for lost slave property.

References

Dictionary of Wars, 131.

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