Sir John Cass – Reconstructing Legacies

Welcome to the first place on your tour!

If you’d prefer to listen to the audio version of this article, listen to Matt and Sachin here: 

 

You should currently be standing in front of what is Aldgate School, formerly known as Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School. The school’s founder, Sir John Cass (1661-1718) was a London businessman, member of Parliament and philanthropist who has been memorialised in a number of institutions today from charities to universities. However, recent research into Cass’s involvement with the British slave trade has transformed his celebrated legacy; as seen by the primary school’s disassociation with his name as well as the removal of public statues across the City.

 

From an economic standpoint, Cass primarily benefitted from the slave trade through investing, as seen by his purchase of £6000 (roughly £1 million today) worth of shares in the Royal African Company between 1705-1707. However, Cass’s involvement extends far beyond financial benefit, as witnessed in his direct involvement with the management of the business as an assistant. Records indicate that Cass attended around two thirds of the Court of Assistant’s meetings, held in the Company’s building on Leadenhall St. Here, stockholders would actively discuss the future development of the business and how expeditions to and from Africa would work.  Cass’s role advanced from assistant to Committee of Correspondence, deepening his connection to the slave trade.

Letters signed by Cass on behalf of the company indicate how the slave trade system was financially driven. One letter from 1701 in particular highlights this:

‘To prevent the mortallity of the Negroes you must frequently wash your Decks with Vinegar & divert them as much as you can with some sort of musick & play’

This statement indicates that any humane treatment provided was not done so out of humanitarian efforts but rather economic gain; the business realised that basic hygiene requirements kept more slaves alive from disease, thus increasing their supply and profit. 

However, involvement in the trade reaped more than just financial benefit for Cass, who joined Parliament in 1710, along with a number of other people with ties to the Company. His connections further allowed him access to the Carpenters and Skinners livery companies, expanding his role in the City of London’s economy. Thus, we can begin to see how the slave trade, while certainly fuelled by economic incentives, also produced other political and social advantages, creating this layered integration within the system.

Cass’s philanthropic ventures have resulted in the construction of a one-sided legacy portraying him as a hard-working British white man who gave back to his nation through schools and charities. While this is somewhat accurate, it is equally important that we recognise that his money and political success were very much tied to the horrors of the slave trade, and thus his legacy must account for this.

Please continue onto Leadenhall Street to find out more about the Royal African Company itself.