Eastern Naval Division Explained

Unit Name:Eastern Naval Division
Dates:13 February 1827 – 13 March 1830
Branch: Imperial Brazilian Navy
Type:Naval Division
Role:Slave Trade suppression
Garrison:Cabinda
Battles:Battle of Carmen de Patagones
Battle of Monte Santiago

The Eastern Naval Division, the East Naval Division, or the Naval Division of the African Coast was a naval base of the Brazilian Imperial Navy established in the Angolan province of Cabinda. It was created in 1827 and had as its objective the inspection of Brazilian ships regarding the observance of the 1815 treaty with British Empire about the slave trade. The fleet was composed, in variable periods of stay, by the Frigate Paraguaçu, Corvette Ânimo Grande, Brig Quinze de Agosto and the Brig-schooners Duqueza de Goyaz and Ismênia.

Although the main objective was inspection, with time it was revealed that the naval division collaborated with the increase of traffic by protecting the ships from corsair and pirate attacks, acting as a protector of the Brazilian maritime commerce. The naval base was extinguished in March 1830.

Origins

See main article: Blockade of Africa.

Brazil had just become independent, and Great Britain conditioned the recognition of its emancipation to the abolition of the slave trade that existed in the country. To this end, meetings were held between the two countries with the objective of defining when the slave trade on the African coast should be extinguished. On November 23, 1826, a deadline was defined, and this meeting was ratified on March 13, 1827, stipulating the date of March 13, 1830, for Brazil to declare such commerce illegal.

The empire committed itself to fulfill the agreements, supervising the intense slave traffic between the Brazilian and African coasts and inspecting the ships that left the African coast to Brazil.

Vessels

Eastern Division

Vessel Location
Dona Francisca[1] Cabinda
IsmêniaMolembo
Duas EstrelasMolembo
Paraguaçú[2] Cabinda
Novo BrilhanteCabinda
15 de AgostoCabinda
Ânimo Grande[3] Cabinda
Duqueza de Goyaz[4] Cabinda
Bertioga[5] Cabinda
FelizAmbriz
3 de Maio[6] Cabinda
Despique PaulistanoMolembo

Commander

RankName Date
1R.ADM João Bernardino Gonzaga 13 February 1827
2R.ADM 31 November 1827
3CPT James Thompson 25 December 1827
4CO Justino Xavier de Castro 26 December 1827
5CO Bartholomeu Hayden 19 May 1828
6LT Foord Morgell 1 November 1828
7LT José Lamego Costa 17 August 1829
xdissolved 13 March 1830

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-01-01. Corveta Dona Francisca. www.naval.com.br.
  2. Web site: 2023-01-01. Fragata Paraguaçú. www.naval.com.br.
  3. Web site: 2023-01-01. Corveta Animo Grande. www.naval.com.br.
  4. Corveta Duquesa de Goiás . Diretoria do Patrimônio Histórico e Documentação da Marinha . Brazilian Navy.
  5. Web site: 2023-01-01. Corveta Bertioga. www.naval.com.br.
  6. Web site: 2023-01-01. Brigue Três de Maio. www.naval.com.br.