# Daaga and the St Joseph Mutiny (1837)

URL: https://allhistories.com/trinidad-and-tobago/timeline/1837-daaga-and-the-st-joseph-mutiny
Location: St Joseph, Trinidad
Themes: battle

The British army filled its West India Regiments partly with Africans freed from captured slave ships. In 1836 HMS Vestal seized the slaver Phoenix, bound for Cuba with 480 Africans; instead of being sent to Sierra Leone, many were landed in Grenada and conscripted. Among them was Daaga, a man of probably Popo (Gbe) or Yoruba origin from the Slave Coast, enlisted as Donald Stewart and sent with the 1st West India Regiment to Trinidad. Resenting forced military service, Daaga and other recruits planned to return to Africa by marching east. In the early hours of 18 June 1837 about 180 African soldiers rose at the barracks in St Joseph, setting fire to buildings and killing an old Black soldier, Charles Dixon, who tried to stop them. The mutineers were dispersed by troops and local militia; some were killed and Daaga was captured soon afterwards. A court martial sentenced him and others to death, and Daaga, Edward Coffin and Maurice Ogston were shot by firing squad at St Joseph on 16 August 1837. Daaga became a folk hero of African resistance in Trinidad. His name was taken up by the Black Power movement of 1970, and a building at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, is named Daaga Hall. At this point in the timeline (18 June 1837), the King of the United Kingdom was William IV (26 June 1830 – 20 June 1837); the Governor of Trinidad was Sir George Hill (22 April 1833 – 9 March 1839).

## Why it matters
The mutiny remains a powerful symbol of African resistance and dignity in Trinidad and Tobago's history.

Ruler at the Time: [William IV](https://allhistories.com/trinidad-and-tobago/rulers/william-iv-trinidad)

Governor of Trinidad: Sir George Hill

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Daaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daaga)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Daaga mutiny Trinidad](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Daaga+mutiny+Trinidad)
- [Wikipedia — West India Regiments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_India_Regiments)
- [NALIS — National Library and Information System Authority](https://www.nalis.gov.tt/)
- [Wikipedia — Emancipation And Indentureship (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Trinidadians_and_Tobagonians)