Britain annexes Lagos Island
- When
- 1861
- Where
- Lagos Island; HMS Prometheus (vessel)
- Episodes
- 2
The Treaty of Cession, signed on 6 August 1861, transferred sovereignty of Lagos Island to the British Empire. Oba Dosunmu, pressured by military threats, ceded the island while retaining his title subject to English laws. This event formalized British control following earlier interventions in the region.
Episodes
- Pre-Treaty Negotiations
British officials met Oba Dosunmu aboard HMS Prometheus on 30 July 1861 to explain treaty terms.
- Signing of the Treaty of Cession
Oba Dosunmu signed the Treaty of Cession on 6 August 1861, ceding Lagos Island to Britain under threat of bombardment.
Background and detail
Background. British presence in West Africa grew through the West Africa Squadron's anti-slavery operations. In 1851, Britain intervened in Lagos, installing Oba Akitoye and establishing a consular period. This context set the stage for the 1861 treaty, where British officials sought to secure the island against slave trade activities and regional conflicts.
Treaty Terms. The treaty stipulated that Oba Dosunmu, known as Docemo, granted the port and island of Lagos to the Queen of Great Britain. In exchange, he received an annual pension equal to his previous net revenue. The inhabitants were to remain as subjects under British sovereignty, ensuring peace and protection from external threats.
Negotiation Process. William McCoskry, the Acting Consul, and Commander Bedingfield convened a meeting with Oba Dosunmu on 30 July 1861 aboard HMS Prometheus. British intentions were explained, and a response was required by August 1861. The subsequent signing occurred under the threat of military bombardment, leading to the cession of the island.
People involved
- Oba Dosunmu · Signatory of the Treaty of Cession
- William McCoskry · Acting Consul in Lagos
- Commander Bedingfield · Officer named Commander Bedingfield
Sources
- Lagos Treaty of Cession Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-09
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.