Joseph Cinque (ca. 1813-ca. 1879) was a West African who led a slave mutiny on the Cuban Amistad ship in 1839. It led to a celebrated trial in United States courts, which held that slaves escaping from illegal bondage should be treated as free men.

Who was Joseph Cinque and what did he do?

Sengbe Pieh (also known as Joseph Cinque) was born in Mani in present-day Sierra Leone in 1813/1814. He was a rice farmer and trader, and at the time of his capture he had a wife and three children. In 1839 slave traders kidnapped Pieh while he was working in the rice fields.

Who is Joseph cinquez and why is he important?

Joseph Cinquez was the leader of a revolt among African slaves aboard the Spanish ship "Amistad" en route to Cuba in June 1839. The slaves seized control of the ship but were soon recaptured and charged with murder and piracy.