Lewis Tappan

Lewis Tappan (May 23, 1788 – June 21, 1873) was an American abolitionist who in 1841 helped to secure freedom for the enslaved Africans aboard the Amistad. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, into a Calvinist household.

Tappan was also one of the founders of the American Missionary Association in 1846, which established over 100 anti-slavery Congregational churches throughout the Midwest. After the American Civil War, the association founded numerous schools and colleges to support the education of freedmen.

Contacted by Connecticut abolitionists shortly after the Amistad arrived in port, Tappan devoted significant attention to the captive African people. He ensured the acquisition of high-quality lawyers for the captives, ultimately leading to their release after the case reached the United States Supreme Court. Alongside his brother Arthur, Tappan not only secured legal assistance and acquittal for the Africans but also successfully bolstered public support and fundraising efforts. Finally, he organized the return trip home to Africa for surviving members of the group.