{"id":24232,"date":"2025-11-21T16:07:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/the-great-colonial-business\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T08:06:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T08:06:44","slug":"the-great-colonial-business","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/the-great-colonial-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Colonial Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f5efd7&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||94px|||&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;||40px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;10px||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;10px||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;|||on|||||&#8221; header_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_font_size=&#8221;77px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>The Great Colonial Business<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;auto&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;80%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; max_width=&#8221;810px&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;none&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;80%&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||42px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A large part of the wealth of the Catalan bourgeoisie \u2014 which invested in infrastructure, founded banks and companies, erected buildings, and promoted cultural institutions \u2014 came from the exploitation of enslaved labour in the colonies, especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico, or, directly, from the trafficking of people between Africa and the American colonies.<\/p>\n<p>Take, for example, all the buildings erected in Barcelona during this period: we now know that part of the capital invested in them came from these sources. Explore this Barcelona and uncover this legacy. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/web-bcn-esclavista.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;web-bcn-esclavista&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/barcelonaesclavista.cat\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||36px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_code][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/barcelonaesclavista.cat\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Open map&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;20.5px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#1d1d1b&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; button_border_radius=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_body_font||||on||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x26;||divi||400&#8243; button_on_hover=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|||0px|false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; button_bg_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; button_bg_color__hover=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; button_bg_enable_color__hover=&#8221;on&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;rgba(246,245,232,0.45)&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;98px||78px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;52px||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;36px||10px||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;3_5,2_5&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; max_width=&#8221;1250px&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;1250px&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;1250px&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|72px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||18px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||25px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||18px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Between the 16th and 19th centuries, more than 12.5 million people were captured in Africa and forcibly shipped to the American colonies. All colonial powers took part. In 1789, King Charles IV authorised all Spanish subjects, as well as merchants of any nationality, to engage in the slave trade with Spain\u2019s American colonies. From that point on, hundreds of merchants and sailors from the Basque Country, Cantabria, Catalonia, and across peninsular Spain \u2014 as well as from the Balearic and Canary Islands \u2014 joined this highly lucrative business, which had long been practiced from Europe\u2019s main ports.   <\/p>\n<p>In the Spanish colonies, the trafficking of people remained legal until 1820. From 1821 onwards, it was officially banned \u2014 but the use of enslaved labour remained legal. Despite the prohibition, the trafficking of people persisted, enabled by a network of interests and corruption between the business world and colonial authorities, who turned a blind eye.  <\/p>\n<p>It is very difficult to determine how many Catalans were involved in this shameful trade, as human trafficking was always a transnational and opaque activity. Current research suggests that ships sailing under the Spanish flag transported nearly one million people to the Americas who would end up enslaved. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f5efd7&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||||true&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;14px|18px|14px|18px|true|true&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>We know of several Catalan captains who commanded slave ships to the Americas: Josep Carb\u00f3, from Sant Feliu de Gu\u00edxols; Agust\u00ed Conill Sala, from Lloret; Esteve Gatell Roig, from Torredembarra; Joan and Pere Mas Roig, from Vilassar de Mar; Josep Matar\u00f3 Dom\u00e8nech, from Lloret; Jaume Tint\u00f3 Miralles, from Barcelona; and Miquel Oliver Moll, Gaspar Roig Llenas, and Eugeni Vi\u00f1es Castellets.<\/p>\n<p>Among the Catalan shipowners who organised slave-trading expeditions were Josep Canela Ravent\u00f3s, Mari\u00e0 Flaquer, Pere Gil Babot, Isidre Inglada, Josep Pie Parellada, Salvador Sam\u00e0, Jaume Tint\u00f3 Miralles, Jaume Torrents Serramalera, Josep Antoni Vidal Pasqual, and Jaume Vilardeb\u00f3.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;1250px&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;1250px&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;1250px&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|44px|auto||&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;|auto|0px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|auto|0px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pere-gil-babot.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Pere Gil Babot&#8221; title_text=&#8221;pere-gil-babot&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||17px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_body_font|500|||||||&#8221; header_4_font_size=&#8221;23px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||1px||false|false&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;23px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;22px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_4_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_4_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>Pere Gil i Babot<\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>(Tarragona, 1783 \u2013 Barcelona, 1853) was a merchant, businessman, banker, patron and art collector, Member of Parliament for several terms and founder of the Catalan Society for Gas Lighting (SCAG). He was involved in various businesses, including the export of wines and spirits, the import of sugar, cotton and cocoa, the trafficking of enslaved people, the occasional transport of soldiers and passengers between Spain and America, and privateering, as he had a letter of marque to capture enemy ships. <\/p>\n<p>Portrait painted by Vicente Rodes y Aries (Alicante, 1783 \u2013 Barcelona, 1858), belonging to the collections of the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC).<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/salvador-sama-ok.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Salvador Sam\u00e0 i Mart\u00ed&#8221; title_text=&#8221;salvador-sama-ok&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||17px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_body_font|500|||||||&#8221; header_4_font_size=&#8221;23px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||1px||false|false&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;23px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;22px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_4_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_4_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>Salvador Sam\u00e0 i Mart\u00ed<\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>(Vilanova i la Geltr\u00fa, 1797 \u2013 Havana, 1866) arrived in Cuba in 1810 to join the family business of his uncles Pau and Josep Sam\u00e0 i Par\u00e8s. He amassed a great fortune by trafficking enslaved people, while also achieving a high position on the social ladder: he became mayor of Havana, was appointed senator of the Kingdom of Spain and, in 1860, queen Isabel II awarded him the title of Marquis of Marianao as a reward. <\/p>\n<p>Posthumous portrait by Josep Margalef Palac\u00edn (Huesca, 1900- Barcelona, 1985). MMB <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/jaume-torrents-serramalera-1.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Jaume Torrents i Serramalera&#8221; title_text=&#8221;jaume-torrents-serramalera&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||17px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_body_font|500|||||||&#8221; header_4_font_size=&#8221;23px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||1px||false|false&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;23px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;22px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; header_4_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_4_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_4_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_4_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4>Jaume Torrents i Serramalera<\/h4>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>(Moi\u00e0, 1796 \u2013 Barcelona, 1854) was a businessman and shipowner who had settled in Cuba from a very young age. He assembled a fleet of at least eight sailing vessels, some of which took part in the trafficking of enslaved people, such as the frigates Di\u00f3genes and La Primera de Catalu\u00f1a, and the brig Emprendedor, vessels for which we have documented voyages between 1828 and 1837. After returning to Barcelona in 1838, he moved into the mansion that today houses the Ateneu Barcelon\u00e8s, and continued to manage his fleet engaged in trade along the tasajo route, while making major investments in infrastructure such as the Barcelona\u2013Matar\u00f3 railway, inaugurated in 1848, and openly expressing a staunch defense of slavery.  <\/p>\n<p>Posthumous portrait by Pere Borrell del Caso (Puigcerd\u00e0, 1835 \u2013 Barcelona, 1910). MMB <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f5efd7&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;168px||40px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;100px||30px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;75px||||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;4&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;off|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;80%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;none&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;80%&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|94px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||77px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||48px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||true|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fragata-primera-de-cat-torrents.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;People working on the plantations&#8221; title_text=&#8221;fragata-primera-de-cat-torrents&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||33px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||40px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||25px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Frigate La Primera de Catalu\u00f1a.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Built in San Francisco (USA) and registered in Havana in 1846, she was registered at the Barcelona Maritime Registry as the property of Jaume Torrents Serramalera in 1849. She was wrecked on the Cayo Verde (Cuba) on 9 January 1855. <\/p>\n<p>Oil on canvas by James Guy Evans, ca. 1849-1855.<\/p>\n<p>MMB<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fragata-buenavetura.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;People working on the plantations&#8221; title_text=&#8221;fragata-buenavetura&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||33px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Frigate Buenaventura, Captain Jaime Isern<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Built in Matar\u00f3 by shipwright Francisco Segarra, she was registered at the Barcelona Maritime Registry in 1865 as the property of D. Salvador Sam\u00e0, of the Havana trade. In 1867 she was sold to the Havana firm of Sam\u00e0, Sotolongo y C\u00aa. <\/p>\n<p>Oil on canvas by James Guy Evans, s.d.<\/p>\n<p>MMB<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;80%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;none&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;80%&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|94px|auto|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||64px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||40px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||true|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/fragata-paquita.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;People working on the plantations&#8221; title_text=&#8221;fragata-paquita&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||33px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;||50px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||20px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>Frigate Paquita Captn F. Sust y [&#8230;]<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Registered at the Barcelona Maritime Registry, she was owned by the firm Sam\u00e0, Sotolongo y C\u00aa and sold to another shipping company in 1867.<\/p>\n<p>Oil on canvas by Edward Everard Arnold, 1859<\/p>\n<p>MMB<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bergantin-julito.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;People working on the plantations&#8221; title_text=&#8221;bergantin-julito&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; force_fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||33px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;20px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; text_letter_spacing_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_letter_spacing_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; text_line_height_tablet=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_phone=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; text_line_height_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<em>Brig Julito, her captain Francisco Colom\u00e9<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Built in Blanes in 1848, she was owned by Sam\u00e0 Hermanos, of the Havana trade, as recorded in the1st list of Havana vessels. In 1883 she was sold to Sam\u00e0, Sotolongo y C\u00aa. On 23 June 1879 she is recorded as rigged as a brigantine. She was broken up at Villajoyosa in 1886.   <\/p>\n<p>Oil on canvas by James Guy Evans, ca. 1847\u20131859.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; module_class=&#8221;nav-prev-home-next&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; max_width=&#8221;125px&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;141px&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;111px&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/anterior.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;anterior&#8221; url=&#8221;@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjE2In19@&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;url&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; height=&#8221;25px&#8221; height_tablet=&#8221;30px&#8221; height_phone=&#8221;25px&#8221; height_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; filter_opacity__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; filter_opacity__hover=&#8221;36%&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/home.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;home&#8221; url=&#8221;@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjEwIn19@&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;url&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; height=&#8221;25px&#8221; height_tablet=&#8221;30px&#8221; height_phone=&#8221;25px&#8221; height_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; filter_opacity__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; filter_opacity__hover=&#8221;36%&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/seguent.png&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Siguiente&#8221; url=&#8221;@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjIwIn19@&#8221; align=&#8221;right&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;url&#8221; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; height=&#8221;25px&#8221; height_tablet=&#8221;30px&#8221; height_phone=&#8221;25px&#8221; height_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; filter_opacity__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; filter_opacity__hover=&#8221;36%&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Great Colonial BusinessA large part of the wealth of the Catalan bourgeoisie \u2014 which invested in infrastructure, founded banks and companies, erected buildings, and promoted cultural institutions \u2014 came from the exploitation of enslaved labour in the colonies, especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico, or, directly, from the trafficking of people between Africa and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24232","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24232"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24890,"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24232\/revisions\/24890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exposicionsvirtuals.mmb.cat\/lainfamia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}