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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

William McBlair collection [Decimalized .01-.72]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Header Record Date: 1855-1859 Pagination: 72 items Order a Copy

Collection of more than 70 documents regarding William McBlair, a United States Naval captain involved in American efforts to suppress the slave trade on the African coast in the 1850s. McBlair commanded the "Dale" in the U.S. Navy's African Squadron. He later joined the Confederate Navy and commanded the CSS "Patrick Henry," as well as the ironclad CSS "Atlanta." McBlair died in 1863 on board of a hospital ship.

This collection includes McBlair's appointments, orders and personal and professional correspondence while on assignment patrolling the West Coast of Africa, particularly the Congo River. In addition to providing detailed discussion of the slave trade and its political implications, the documents shed light on Anglo-American relations (particularly U.S. attempts at cooperation with the British navy in interdicting illegal slave trading vessels), Liberian history, and life at sea (disease, deserters, "unnatural" relations between sailors).

In 1808, the U.S. Congress had prohibited any further importation of slaves; in 1820, the trade was declared an act of piracy, although it continued illegally until the 1860s.

William McBlair was a United States naval officer in command of the ship "Dale," responsible for catching illegal slave trading ships off the coast of Africa. Later served in the Confederate Navy.

McBlair, William, ?-1863

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