1745 - Born in Essaka (in present-day Nigeria). A self-
proclaimed West African sold into slavery and later freed. 1756
- Equiano was kidnapped at age 11 and taken to the West Indies.
From there he went to Virginia, where he was purchased by a sea
captain, Michael Henry Pascal, with whom he traveled widely.
1766 - He received some education before he bought his own
freedom. 1786 - In London, he became involved in the movement to
abolish slavery. He was a prominent member of the 'Sons of
Africa', a group of 12 black men who campaigned for abolition.
1788 - As a major voice in this movement, Equiano petitioned the
Queen of England. 1789 - His autobiography, The Interesting
Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano; or, Gustavus Vassa,
the African, Written by Himself, with its strong abolitionist
stance and detailed description of life in Nigeria, was so
popular that in his lifetime it ran through nine English
editions and one U.S. printing and was translated into Dutch,
German, and Russian. - Equiano's most impor