James
Forten was
born in Philadelphia in 1766. Apprenticed as a sailmaker he became
a foreman in 1786 and by 1798 he owned his own company in 1798. A
successful businessman he amassed a fortune of over $100,000.
Forten took an active interest in politics and campaigned for temperance,
women's suffrage and equal rights for
African-Americans. In 1800 he organised a petition calling for Congress
to emancipate all slaves. He also wrote and published a pamphlet attacking
the Pennsylvania legislature for prohibiting the immigration of freed
black slaves from other states.
In 1817 Forden joined with Richard Allen
to form the Convention of Color. The organization
argued for the settlement of escaped black slaves in Canada
but was strongly opposed to any plans for repatriation to Africa.
Other leading figures that became involved in the movement was William
Wells Brown, Samuel Eli Cornish
and Henry Highland Garnet.
In 1833 Forten helped to form the American
Anti-Slavery Society. A close friend of William
Lloyd Garrison, Forten contributed to his anti-slavery newspaper,
The
Liberator.
James
Forten
died on 24th February, 1842.
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