James Forten: A man with the wind at his back

James Forten (1766-1842) was born in Philadelphia, the grandson of slaves. Forten began working with his father at Robert Bridges’ sail loft when he was only 8 years old. When his father was killed in a boating accident a year later, young James had to work even harder and longer hours to help support his family. During the Revolutionary War, 14-year-old Forten became a powder boy, working the cannons on a ship. Although he was captured by the British, they released him and he went back home to resume his work in Bridges’ sail loft. Bridges admired Forten’s work so much that when Bridges retired, he loaned Forten enough money to buy the business, which employed 38 people.

Soon after, Forten invented a sail that provided greater maneuverability and speed. He never patented his sail, but in part because of his invention, his sail loft became one of the most prosperous in Philadelphia. Forten was wealthy by any standards. But what’s especially admirable about Forten is not so much the ingenuity of how he made his fortune, but the humility in what he did with it.

Forten spent more than half of his fortune helping others. He was an avid abolitionist who not only supported William Garrison’s abolitionist newspaper, but he routinely purchased and freed slaves, as well as using his home as a depot for the Underground Railroad. In addition, he supported women’s suffrage and financed a school for black children.

(photo credit: painted by William Ranney in 1845. Public domain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rev_collage.png)

Comments

[Jaime]

That’s a great story of American ingenuity and philanthropy. I learn something every time I check in with this blog.

[frank]

I'd like to think that if I ever came across a good bit of money that a portion of it would be spent philanthropically.

No, chances are I'd use the money to paper-mache over a solid gold statue of myself.

[Marty Rhodes Figley]

I was thrilled to see this blog about James Forten. Like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James was an expert at playing a game with a spherical ball—but instead of basketball, his game was marbles.

My new children’s book Prisoner for Liberty (Lerner/Millbrook Press, 2008) begins during the last months of the Revolutionary War, when 15-year-old James Forten is a sailor on an American privateer ship, the Royal Louis. The book recounts his ship’s capture by a British ship, a pivotal marble game with the British captain’s son, and James’s heroic actions as a prisoner of war on the infamous prison ship Jersey.

When I talk to young readers about Prisoner for Liberty I pose this problem:

The British Captain, who holds James Forten prisoner, has a son.
The boy challenges James to a game of marbles.
James is an expert marble player.
Should James beat him or let him win?
What would you do?

James decides to win the marble game. His bravery and good character also win their admiration. By the end of the voyage, the captain offers to send James to England and provide him with an education. James won’t be a traitor and turns them down.

Since the British frequently sold black prisoners of war into slavery, James later said that a game of marbles saved him from a life of West Indian servitude.

James Forten was a winner at marbles and at life. I would love young readers to learn more about him. If you are interested in reading this book, it’s available on Amazon, etc. – or ask for it at your local library.

Happy reading!
Marty Rhodes Figley