English expedition to the Gambia River (1618)

English expedition to the Gambia River (1618)
	Part of History of the Gambia
Date	September, 1618
Location	Gassan, Gambia River
Result	English failure
Belligerents
Kingdom of Portugal	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Hector Nunez	George Thompson †
Units involved
Unknown	Catherine
Strength
Unknown number of Portuguese soldiers and castes	1 ship; 1 smaller ship ; Few on board
Casualties and losses
Unknown	All killed

The English expedition to the Gambia River (1618) was a failed English expedition led by George Thompson with the objective of opening trade with Timbuktu.

Background

Letters patent granting exclusive trading rights in the Gambia River were issued to various adventurers in 1598, 1612, and 1632, but it wasn't until 1618 that the English made their first attempt to explore the river. This expedition was led by George Thompson, sent by the London Company of Adventurers,^[1] with the objective of opening trade with Timbuktu.^[2]^[3]

Expedition

Leaving his ship, the Catherine, at Gassan (Kassang), Thompson proceeded with a small party in boats up the Neriko river. During his absence, the crew of the Catherine was massacred by Portuguese slave traders^[1] under Hector Nunez.^[2] All Englishmen present at Gassan were killed in the surprise assault.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Some of Thompson's party managed to return overland to Cape Verde and subsequently to England. Meanwhile, Thompson remained in the Gambia with seven companions but was killed by one of them after a sudden quarrel^[2]^[3] or supposedly by natives.^[1]

Aftermath

Another expedition under Richard Jobson was later dispatched, which seized Portuguese shipping in retaliation for the massacre. Jobson also traveled to Neriko, reporting the commercial potential of the river. However, both his and previous expeditions resulted in significant losses, leading patentees to abandon their attempts in the Gambia and refocus on the Gold Coast.^[1]^[2]^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Johnston 1899, p. 194.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Gray 1940, pp. 21–22.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Annual Report on the Social and Economic Progress of the People of The Gambia (PDF). Bathurst: HM Stationery Office. 1938. p. 2.

Bibliography

Gray, J.M (1940). The History of the Gambia. London: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-51196-5.
Johnston, Harry (1899). A history of the colonization of Africa by alien races. University Press.

[FOOTNOTEJohnston1899194-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Johnston 1899, p. 194.

[FOOTNOTEGray194021–22-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Gray 1940, pp. 21–22.

[:1-3] Annual Report on the Social and Economic Progress of the People of The Gambia (PDF). Bathurst: HM Stationery Office. 1938. p. 2.

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