Betsy Heard

Betsy Hear was a Euro-African slave trade who developed a monopoly in slave trade at Bereira, on the upper west coast of Africa in the second half of the 18th century. Betsy was born as a daughter of the English merchant from Liverpool and a local African slave women. Her father, who was apparently engaged about her upbringing, sent her to England to study commerce and European culture. There she met other Euro-African children of traders and entrepreneurs. After she returned to West Africa she gradually took over her father’s business. He owned slave trading factory in Bereira and numerous business connections. Betsy eventually became very successful in that entrerprise. She was an owner of the main wharf in Bereira with several trading ships and of warehouse full of merchandise. Except for her business skills, Betsy was also known for her political influence and diplomatic skills. She retired from business when she was near fifty, and little is known about her after 1812.