1831 – Birth of Cinqué, Leader of the Amistad Revolt

Sengbe Pieh, later known as Joseph Cinqué, was born around June 3, 1831, in what is now Sierra Leone. In 1839, he led a revolt aboard the Spanish slave ship La Amistad after being illegally kidnapped and sold into slavery. Cinqué and the other captives took control of the ship and attempted to sail back to Africa, but were captured off the U.S. coast. Their trial became a landmark case in international law and the fight against slavery. Defended by former U.S. President John Quincy Adams, the captives were ultimately declared free by the Supreme Court. Cinqué returned to Africa in 1842. His courageous leadership challenged global slavery and highlighted African resistance against European and American exploitation. His story remains a potent symbol of freedom and justice in the face of oppression.