Eastern Naval Division

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Eastern Naval Division
Divisão Naval da Costa do Leste (Portuguese)
Active13 February 1827 – 13 March 1830
Country Empire of Brazil
Branch Imperial Brazilian Navy
TypeNaval Division
RoleSlave Trade suppression
Garrison/HQCabinda
EngagementsBattle 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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] The naval base was extinguished in March 1830.[4]

Origins[edit]

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[edit]

Eastern Division[edit]

Vessel Location
Dona Francisca[5] Cabinda
Ismênia Molembo
Duas Estrelas Molembo
Paraguaçú[6] Cabinda
Novo Brilhante Cabinda
15 de Agosto Cabinda
Ânimo Grande[7] Cabinda
Duqueza de Goyaz[8] Cabinda
Bertioga[9] Cabinda
Feliz Ambriz
3 de Maio[10] Cabinda
Despique Paulistano Molembo

Commander[edit]

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

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Oliveira 2022, p. 123
  2. ^ Oliveira 2022, p. 103
  3. ^ Oliveira 2022, p. 104
  4. ^ Oliveira 2022, p. 150
  5. ^ "Corveta Dona Francisca". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  6. ^ "Fragata Paraguaçú". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  7. ^ "Corveta Animo Grande". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  8. ^ "Corveta Duquesa de Goiás" (PDF). Diretoria do Patrimônio Histórico e Documentação da Marinha. Brazilian Navy.
  9. ^ "Corveta Bertioga". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  10. ^ "Brigue Três de Maio". www.naval.com.br. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

Bibliography[edit]