Dalby Thomas (c. 1650–1711) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

businessman and writer. Thomas was a commissioner of the glass duty, which administered taxes on bottles, dishes, and other glassware.

Daniel Defoe Daniel Defoe (; born Daniel Foe; 1660 – 24 April 1731) was an English writer, merchant and spy. He is most famous for his novel ''Robinson Crusoe'', published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its number of translati ...

became an accountant for Dalby Thomas in the fall of 1695, through 1699. Dalby Thomas was knighted 1 August 1703 at Windsor Castle -- "of Essex and London, general, and chief director for the Royal Africa Company" Sir Dalby was governor (Agent-general) of Cape Coast Castle, 1703-1711, the main British slave fort on the West African coast. He died in Africa, but his wife Lady Dorothy Thomas and daughter Susanna used family money to pay for a new vicarage at St Mary’s Church, Hampton and built a lavish tomb to Sir Dalby.

Slave Trade

He wrote ''Historical Account of the Rise and Growth of the West-India Colonies and of the Great Advantages They Are to England, in Respect to Trade'' which was published in London in 1690. Here he advocated revoking the monopoly on trading in enslaved Africans, which at the time was enjoyed by the

Royal African Company The Royal African Company (RAC) was an English trading company established in 1660 by the House of Stuart and City of London merchants to trade along the West African coast. It was overseen by the Duke of York, the brother of Charles II of Eng ...

, arguing that free trade would lead to a reduction in the price of chattel slaves. Thomas called for the establishment of a great council of trade representing "every Plantation, Marritime, City, Company, Constitution and Trade, which would desire to send Members to it", which would draw up advisory documents for both

Houses of Parliament The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative ch ...

References

{{Reflist 1711 deaths Year of birth uncertain Dalby is mentioned several times in K G Davies Royal African Company along with Jon Snow whom was his contemporary in NW Africa.