William Ansah Sessarakoo

William Ansah (or Unsah ) Sessarakoo (* probably 1736-1749 ), was the son of a wealthy African merchant, who was kidnapped into slavery in the West Indies. After his liberation he came to London, where he became famous.

Sessarakoo was the son of a wealthy brafo ( chief) from the people of the Fante, who ran his trade near the Dutch Fort in Fort William in the city Anomabo on the West African Gold Coast in present-day Ghana. His father was known as " John Corrente " and traded with gold and slaves. John Corrente decided to send his son and a companion to Europe so there will learn the European business practices, thereby extending its business success. The European captain, to whom he entrusted his son, but Sessarakoo deported to Bridgetown in Barbados and sold him there as slaves. The captain died soon after, but Sessarakoos father discovered the betrayal and refused so long to trade with the English, until his son would be released. The Royal African Company then arranged via local dealers ransom of Sessarakoo.

Sessarakoo was brought to London, where he was under the protection of George Montagu - Dunk and treated as a "foreign prince ," as " Princ of Annamabo " and was introduced to George II. He became a celebrity and you compared him with Oroonoko, a fictional African prince from a novella by Aphra Behn, who had also been sold into slavery. He attended a performance of Thomas Southerne which was based on Behn's novella. His portrait was painted by Gabriel Mathias in 1749. The presentation of the portrait was highly unusual for the time, since an African was portrayed as an individual. His story inspired William Dodd to write his poem, The African Prince in 1750 were his recollections under the title The Royal African: published or, Memoirs of the Young Prince of Annamaboe. Later he returned to Africa.