Paul Cuffe (1759–1817) was a Black American and Wampanoag merchant, shipowner, abolitionist, and advocate for African resettlement in Africa.
Early Life and Family – Paul Cuffe was born on January 17, 1759, on Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts, the youngest of ten children. His father, Kofi (or Cuffe) Slocum, was an Ashanti man from West Africa who had been enslaved but later freed by Quakers, while his mother, Ruth Moses, was a Wampanoag Native American from Cape Cod. The family initially lived on Cuttyhunk Island, managing grazing lands for the Slocum family, before moving to a 116-acre farm in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, which Paul and his brother John inherited after their father’s death.
At age 14, Paul began his seafaring life on whaling voyages to the West Indies. During the American Revolution, he served on privateer missions and successfully ran supplies through British blockades, even surviving capture and imprisonment by the British in New York Harbor for three months. After the war, he co-founded a shipping business with his brother-in-law, Michael Wainer, building ships such as the Hero and Alpha and expanding trade along the Atlantic Coast, the Canadian Maritimes, and Europe. He also engaged in whaling and fishing expeditions, eventually becoming one of the wealthiest African Americans of his time.
Social and Civic Contributions – Cuffe was a devout Quaker and a member of the Westport Friends Meeting, contributing to the construction of a new meeting house and speaking at Quaker services. He founded the first racially integrated school in the United States and supported local initiatives such as a smallpox hospital, demonstrating his commitment to education and public welfare. In 1780, he and his brother petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature for voting rights, challenging racial inequities in taxation and suffrage.
Family Life – In 1783, Paul married Alice Abel Pequit, a Wampanoag widow, and they had seven children, all of whom survived too adulthood. His family often participated in his maritime ventures, serving as mates, captains, and masters of his ships.
Pan-African Advocacy – Cuffe was an early advocate for the resettlement of free Black Americans to Africa, promoting trade and education initiatives in Sierra Leone. He used his wealth and influence to support African and African American communities, reflecting his vision of economic empowerment and social justice.
Death and Legacy – Paul Cuffe died on September 7, 1817, in Westport, Massachusetts. He is remembered as a pioneering Black entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist whose life bridged African, Native American, and American communities, leaving a lasting impact on maritime trade, education, and civil rights.