WILLIAM EATON

Already receiving tribute for American immunity from the Barbary pirates, the Bey (provincial governor) added a provision to the tribute treaty requiring the Americans to give a barrel of gunpowder for every cannon shot fired in salute of arriving American ships. The American consuls objected saying it insulted their country’s honor:

Eaton, who was the American consul to Tunis during the years leading up to the Barbary War, decided along with his fellow consul, James Cathcart, to use their diplomatic leverage to their benefit by getting involved in Tunisian trade.

He was right and his leading just a few American marines and capturing much of the area proved it.

Many of the Americans captured by the Islamic Barbary pirates in the years leading up to the Barbary War were sold into slavery. Eaton, who was the American consul at Tunis, couldn’t help but notice the tragic parallel between the suffering of those captured by the pirates and slaves in the American South.

Eaton was the American Counsel in Tunis in the era of the Barbary Pirates. A white Italian woman had been captured by the Islamic pirates and sold into slavery in Tunis. She appealed to Eaton for her freedom. He then bought her for $5000. Later when he submitted his expense account to the President, Thomas Jefferson would not pay for the purchase of a slave. Eaton however had not purchased any other slaves who were just as oppressed, and there was suspicion that he might have had a personal interest in this particular woman. After several years of wrangling, Jefferson finally approved the reimbursement.

On October 31, 1803, Tripolitan forces captured the ship Philadelphia and imprisoned the whole crew. The Pasha (provincial governor) of Tripoli, Yusef Karamanli demanded that the United States not only pay a ransom for the prisoners but an annual tribute to Tripoli.

Ahmed Pasha, the Bey (provincial governor) of Tunis, offered a bribe to William Eaton stating that his country would enter into friendship with America and not go to war with Tripoli against America if he received a hefty tribute from America.

Eaton was in the Middle East and at the time that region was a part of the Ottoman Empire controlled by the Turks.

Eaton was the American Counsel in Tunis in the era of the Barbary Pirates. A white Italian woman had been captured by the Islamic pirates and sold into slavery in Tunis. She appealed to Eaton for her freedom. He then bought her for $5000. Later when he submitted his expense account to the President, Thomas Jefferson would not pay for the purchase of a slave. Eaton however had not purchased any other slaves who were just as oppressed, and there was suspicion that he might have had a personal interest in this particular woman. After several years of wrangling, Jefferson finally approved the reimbursement.

Many of the Americans captured by the Islamic Barbary pirates in the years leading up to the Barbary War were sold into slavery. Eaton, who was the American consul at Tunis, couldn’t help but notice the tragic parallel between the suffering of those captured by the pirates and slaves in the American South.

Eaton, who was the American consul to Tunis during the years leading up to the Barbary War, decided along with his fellow consul, James Cathcart, to use their diplomatic leverage to their benefit by getting involved in Tunisian trade.

Ahmed Pasha, the Bey (provincial governor) of Tunis, offered a bribe to William Eaton stating that his country would enter into friendship with America and not go to war with Tripoli against America if he received a hefty tribute from America.

On October 31, 1803, Tripolitan forces captured the ship Philadelphia and imprisoned the whole crew. The Pasha (provincial governor) of Tripoli, Yusef Karamanli demanded that the United States not only pay a ransom for the prisoners but an annual tribute to Tripoli.

He was right and his leading just a few American marines and capturing much of the area proved it.

The Barbary Pirates had an incredible extortion racket going in the Mediterranean. If nations would pay them an annual sum each year, they would not attack and seize merchant ships of that country and sell the ships and goods while holding the sailors for ransom. American politicians were divided on whether to pay the ransom and an annual tribute or send a military force to try and extract the prisoners and bombard and “punish” the Barbary States for their piracy. While the Americans were debating the problem, Eaton thought that there was contempt for the weakness of America in much of North Africa and the Middle East, and the weakness caused more pirates to join and try and go after American vessels.