Curaçao  by John Thomson
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Curacao 1816

John Thomson

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    CURACAO ROUND 1800 "Curaçao" with inset of Fort Amsterdam. Copper engraving by John Thomson, Edinburgh 1816. From "A New General Atlas of the World 1814-1828. Consisting of a Series of Geographical Designs on Various Projections." Later hand-coloured. Sizes approx. 25 x 30 cm. Trade and shipping to and from Curaçao did not always flourish. At a time when European countries were extending their wars into the Caribbean, Curaçao trade suffered greatly as the warring factions also stopped Dutch and Curaçao ships at sea and captured the merchandise. This was not incomprehensible, since in wars in which the Republic did not participate, the trade tried to gain advantage by supplying the warring parties. Especially during the American War of Independence, in which the Americans were in great need of weapons and other products that were traditionally bought from the English, Curaçao's trade and shipping offered the opportunity to make a profit. The English could not fail to react and in late 1780, they declared war on the Republic. After the French Revolution, the French conquered the Republic in 1795 and in the next twenty years several changes took place in the system of government. Meanwhile, the West India Company (WIC) was dissolved at the end of 1791 and its possessions transferred to the Dutch state. These complications also had an impact on Curaçao. Here, too, party struggles took place that led to changes in power. The unrest led to the largest slave revolt in Curaçao's history in 1795. From 1800 to 1802 and from 1807 to 1816, the island was under English possession. After the Napoleonic era, England returned the Caribbean islands to the newly founded Kingdom of the Netherlands. Here, people lived in the optimistic expectation that Curaçao's old trade prosperity would be restored. But there was no outlet for the European products brought to Curaçao. Americans and English had taken over the South American market and supplied it with their products. Price: € 795

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