Vice Admiral Joseph Denman was a British naval officer, most noted for his actions against the slave trade as a commander of HMS Wanderer of the West Africa Squadron.
16 Facts About Joseph Denman
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Joseph Denman entered the Royal Navy on 7 April 1823, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1831 and commander in 1835.
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In 1834, Lieutenant Joseph Denman commanded a prize crew aboard the captured slave ship Maria da Gloria.
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Joseph Denman first sailed her to the Anglo-Brazilian Mixed Commission Court at Rio de Janeiro, which declined jurisdiction on the grounds that the ship was Portuguese, not Brazilian.
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Joseph Denman then had to sail back across the Atlantic to the Anglo-Portuguese court in Sierra Leone.
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Joseph Denman later testified before parliament about this voyage, stating that he had "witnessed the most dreadful sufferings that human beings can endure".
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On 26 December 1836 Commander the Honourable Joseph Denman commissioned the brig-sloop HMS Scylla for the Lisbon Station.
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Joseph Denman remained in command of her there until 17 November 1839.
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In 1839 Joseph Denman took command of the West Africa Squadron's brig-sloop, HMS Wanderer.
10.
In 1840, while negotiating for the release of two Britons, Joseph Denman negotiated a treaty abolishing the slave trade in the territory of the Gallinas, liberating 841 slaves.
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On his return to England, Joseph Denman was on half-pay, awaiting the outcome of the court case.
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Joseph Denman was active, writing a manual for the squadron, called Instructions for the Guidance of Her Majesty's Naval Officers Employed in the Suppression of the Slave Trade, which was to be issued to every serving officer.
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Captain Joseph Denman has been described as one of the most successful and passionate officers to serve on the West Africa squadron and he has been credited with improving the efficiency of the squadron more than any other serving officer.
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Joseph Denman ended his career as Rear Admiral in command of the Pacific station from 1864 until his retirement in April 1866.
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Joseph Denman married on 12 February 1844 Grace Watts-Russell, youngest daughter of Jesse Watts-Russell, MP, of Ilam Hall, Staffordshire.
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Joseph Denman's brother George Denman was a politician and High Court judge.