Daniel Family of Bristol

The Daniel family of Barbados were a wealthy and prominent landed gentry mercantile family who dominated Bristolian politics and affairs during the mid 18th Century until the mid to later part of the 19th century. They held seats in Bristol , Gloucestershire , Devon and London from 1764 up until the 1950s. They held large shares and ownership of companies in banking, finance, ships and imports up until the late 19th century thereafter becoming landowners across Bristol the South and the South West.

1650s–1854, Involvement in the Slave Economy

During the mid 17th Century John Daniel emigrated to Barbados where he purchased several sugar plantations. As the transatlantic slave trade grew so to did the fortunes and estates of those who employed their labour , the Daniel family were during the 17th ,18th and 19th Century amongst these benefiters.

After the death of John Daniel in 1689 his only son Thomas became the sole heir to the families estates aged 10. Thomas's son Thomas born in 1730 immigrated back to Bristol with his wife Eleanor and at the time two daughters and son Eleanor, Anne and Thomas who were the fourth generation of the family to be born on the island. Thomas Daniel Senior established himself as the fifth largest sugar importer in the city before 1800 and his death in 1802.

A headstone in Bristol Cathedral honouring him attests to the Barbadian origins of this "respectable merchant"

It was this Thomas who was father to the notorious 'King of Bristol' Thomas Daniel or 'Father of Bristol' and his brother John Daniel who in 1809 traded under the firm 'Thomas Daniel & Sons' in Bristol and 'Thomas Daniel & Co' in London at 4 Mincing Lane. They catapulted the families fortune to a greater extent than ever before and became one of the largest importers of sugar in Bristol.

The plantations in Barbados and the West Indies were managed by businesses partners associated with the firm as as well as the companies owned by other wealthy merchant families.

In 1834 during the time of emancipation and the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 the government awarded his company one of the largest financial awards in the UK for the ownership of 5,000 enslaved people receiving in total what would today be £9.8 million , based on the Bank of England inflation calculator for goods and services.

It is not disputed that at this time Alderman Daniel and the company owned a significant number of enslaved individuals, but due to the firm also providing mortgages for failing plantations and becoming indirect primary shareholders increased their number on paper of enslaved people owned to such a high number.

He was offered an Earldom and Baronetage from Pitt's government but declined both.

He died with a wealth of £200,000 in 1854 , equivalent to  £23.5 million as of 2021.

there is no evidence to suggest that Daniel ever trafficked slaves to be bought and sold.

Danielstown in Guyana

Danielstown in Guyana is named after Mr. Daniel decided to sell his lands to free African slaves on the Essequibo Coast after the emancipation act. Shortly after Mr Daniel sold his land, he requested of the new owners to rename the plantation Danielstown in his honour. This was done. He donated his own money to help develop Danielstown for the free Africans slaves so they could live a happy and comfortable life.

It is yet to be confirmed which member of the family this was, likely Thomas Daniel's son or grandson both also called Thomas.

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