Prince Slave Soldier King

Tom Peters was a slave who escaped for a third time in 1775 and enlisted in the British Army. He served in the Black Pioneers until 1783 and died of fever in Sierra Leone in 1792. He met abolitionist MPs in London and died of fever three months later.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 23 September 2021
Publisher: Unicorn Publishing Group

Tom Peters' life was truly remarkable, encompassing diversity, energy, hardship, and tenacity. Enslaved in 1760, he made a daring escape in 1775 when the Dunmore Proclamation offered emancipation to fugitive slaves in exchange for military service. He enlisted in the British Army, rising to the rank of sergeant and serving in the Black Pioneers until 1783. The subsequent settlement of Africans in Nova Scotia proved unsuccessful, leading Tom to travel to London in 1791 to meet abolitionist MPs. In 1792, 15 ships transported the Africans to a prepared settlement in Sierra Leone, where Tom tragically succumbed to fever just three months later. While some events have been omitted, notable figures who featured in his life included General Sir Henry Clinton, Granville Sharp, William Wilberforce, his wife Sally, and their children Clairie and John. Sir John Parr, the Governor of Nova Scotia, Sir Guy Carleton, Governor General of Canada, and John Clarkson and William Dawes, Governors of Sierra Leone, also played significant roles. Rumors surrounding Tom's life, including his audience with Queen Victoria, added to the intrigue surrounding his remarkable journey.

Part one of this narrative takes a fictional approach, suggesting that Tom was born in Yorubaland (Nigeria) rather than Ashanti (Ghana). However, parts two, three, and four are more historically accurate, reflecting the events and individuals that shaped his life. Throughout the conversations, they are imaginary, adding a layer of intrigue and creativity to the narrative.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838395308