Capture of the Brillante

The Capture of the Brillante occurred around 1832 and was considered a significant feat in the Blockade of Africa. Brillante was a brig captured by the British Royal Navy after two failed attempts. She was a slave ship of sixty men and ten guns and after capture, her crew were tried and condemned for piracy. The Brillante was under the command of an English captain named Homans when she was seized. Homans was an experienced slaver who in ten cruises had landed 5,000 slaves on the coasts of Brazil and Cuba.

The Brillante reportedly fought at least two battles against the British anti-slavery patrols. She allegedly forced the crew of one British cruiser to abandon ship after a bloody action and on a different occasion, she repulsed boats from a Royal Navy sloop-of-war.

Finally, four navy vessels trapped the Brillante by surrounding her. Just before his capture, Captain Homans murdered around 600 slaves by ordering that their hands be tied to the ship's anchor and that they be thrown over the side. The Britons who captured the ship arrived just after the incident and took control without resistance.