John Hawkins (1532-1595): An English sea captain and slave trader who is considered one of the pioneers of the transatlantic slave trade. He made several voyages to Africa, where he captured and enslaved Africans and transported them to the Americas to be sold as labor on plantations. Hawkins's voyages were extremely profitable, and he became a wealthy man as a result of his involvement in the slave trade.
Sir John Moore (1761-1809): A British military officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Jamaica from 1802 to 1806. During his tenure as governor, Moore oversaw a significant expansion of the slave trade in Jamaica and was responsible for the brutal treatment of enslaved Africans on the island. He also played a key role in the suppression of the Tacky's Rebellion, a major slave revolt that took place in Jamaica in 1760.
Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745-1797): A Nigerian-born writer, abolitionist, and former enslaved person. Equiano was captured as a child and sold into slavery. He was transported to the Americas and later gained his freedom. He became a prominent abolitionist and wrote a best-selling autobiography, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African", which played a significant role in raising awareness about the horrors of the slave trade and contributed to the abolitionist movement.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790): An American Founding Father, scientist, inventor, and statesman. While he is best known for his contributions to the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, Franklin also had some involvement in the slave trade. He owned slaves for a period of time and served as the president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, an organization that worked to abolish slavery. However, his views on slavery were complex and evolved over time, and he eventually became a strong advocate for the abolition of the slave trade.