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Robert Milligan

(1746-1809), Trader of enslaved people

Sitter in 2 portraits
A trader and owner of enslaved people in Jamaica and an instigator of the construction of London’s West India Docks. From 1768 he bought enslaved people from slave ships in Kingston and sold them to clients. In 1781 he settled in London and became a member of the Society of West India Planters and Merchants where he was appointed to a sub-committee to defend their interests against the movement to abolish the slave trade. In 1795 he advised Henry Dundas, Secretary of State for war on the uprising of the maroons in Trelawny, Jamaica. He was instrumental in the construction of the West India Docks, London which from 1802-7 was used as a port for slave-trading ships and served as Chair and Deputy Chair of the West India Dock Company. At his death, his Jamaican plantations were acquired by John Shand whose brother William was awarded compensation in 1846 following the emancipation of 526 enslaved people on his plantations.

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Robert Milligan, by James Anthony Minasi, after  Lemuel Francis Abbott - NPG D38411

Robert Milligan

by James Anthony Minasi, after Lemuel Francis Abbott
stipple and line engraving, (1795)
NPG D38411

Robert Milligan, by Henry Bone, probably after  Lemuel Francis Abbott - NPG D17643

Robert Milligan

by Henry Bone, probably after Lemuel Francis Abbott
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, February 1810
NPG D17643

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