John Pinney

John Pinney was a rich sugar plantation and slave owner from Bristol.

It is known that Pinney owned several plantations on the small island of Nevis in the Caribbean that he inherited from a cousin. He spent almost 20 years in Nevis, running his estates and after which he moved back to Bristol as a very rich man. In Bristol Pinney established himself in business as a sugar merchant, acting as agents for plantation owners. That meant that he sold their sugar for them, arranged supplies for the plantations, and lent money to those in debt. As security for a loan Pinney sought plantation with its slaves.

Like the majority of plantation owners and merchants who had financial interest in the slave and sugar trades, Pinney was a fierce opponent of the abolition of the slave trade. However, when the slaves finally gained their freedom in 1834 he was given the financial compensation by the government. The Pinney family claimed £36,396 (worth almost £1,800,000 today) in compensation for their interests in a large number of slaves on family and other plantations. Although it is unknown whether they received the whole amount, it is known that they did receive £29,069 or almost £1,500,000 today.

In history Pinney is remembered as one of the richest Bristolians at that time, allegedly having earned about £340,000 (ca £17 million today) during his lifetime.