Hugh Crow

Captain Hugh Crow (or Crowe; c. 1765–1829) was an English (Manx) sea voyager, privateer, and slaver. He was captain of several merchant vessels in the African trade; and his Memoirs, posthumously published, are notable for their descriptions of the west coast of Africa.

Life
Hugh Crow was born at Ramsey in the Isle of Man in about 1765, the son of the tradesman Edmund Crow (1730–1809) by his wife, Judith (1737–1807). He lost his right eye in infancy, but despite this handicap was apprenticed to a boat builder and adopted a seafaring life. He became captain of a merchant vessel, and was long engaged in the African trade. In 1808 he retired from active service, and resided for some years in his native town, but in 1817 he fixed his residence in Liverpool, where he died on 13 May 1829.

Works
His Memoirs, published at London in 1830, 8vo, with his portrait prefixed, contain descriptions of the west coast of Africa, particularly the Kingdom of Bonny, and of the manners and customs of the inhabitants.

Popular culture
In the mid-1970s, the Manx screenwriter Nigel Kneale made his only attempt at writing a stage play; called Crow, it was based upon the memoirs of Hugh Crow. Kneale was unable to find backing to produce the play for the stage, but sold the script to ATV who put it into pre-production for television. Shortly before filming it was cancelled by ATV's managing director, Lew Grade, and Kneale was never told why.