# Robert King — The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano character guide

> Robert King in The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** one Mr. Robert King, Mr. King, Robert, the abovesaid Robert King

**First appearance:** 0006-iv

## Snapshot

A Quaker merchant who buys Equiano on the strength of his good character, treats him with unusual decency, and lets him earn his freedom.

## Who they are

King enters the narrative at the moment Equiano is told his fate is settled, a Philadelphia-bound merchant who promises schooling and clerk's work rather than the cane fields. His kindness is real and disorienting: he refuses to beat his slaves, parting with them instead, and his good opinion becomes a form of capital Equiano can spend. He matters because he turns the abstract hope of liberty into a practical arrangement, allowing Equiano to trade and save toward the price of himself.

## Relationships

### [Captain Pascal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/captain_pascal)

_professional_

Captain Pascal and Robert King are business associates, likely involved in the slave trade and shipping.

### [Olaudah Equiano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/olaudah_equiano)

_professional_

Olaudah Equiano serves as an enslaved worker for Robert King, who later becomes his master and employer.

### [Miss Guerin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/miss_guerin)

_social_

Miss Guerin and Robert King are acquaintances, possibly through social or business circles.

### [Mat Macnamara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/mat_macnamara)

_professional_

Mat Macnamara and Robert King have a professional relationship, likely as business partners in the slave trade.

### [Captain Pascal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/captain_pascal)

_professional_

Captain Pascal and Robert King are business associates, likely involved in the slave trade and shipping.

### [Olaudah Equiano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/olaudah_equiano)

_professional_

Olaudah Equiano serves as an enslaved worker for Robert King, who later becomes his master and employer.

### [Miss Guerin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/miss_guerin)

_social_

Miss Guerin and Robert King are acquaintances, possibly through social or business circles.

## In the story

### [The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/chapters/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano)

Quaker merchant in Montserrat who allows Equiano to trade and eventually purchase his freedom.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/chapters/v)

Equiano's new master in Montserrat; tells Equiano to behave well and do his duty; noted for being relatively humane in selling slaves by the lump rather than by weight.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/chapters/vi)

Equiano's master, who reluctantly allows Equiano to sail with Captain Farmer after persistent entreaties, and later leaves Equiano entirely to the captain's command.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/chapters/vii)

Equiano's master, who buys a new sloop named the Nancy and later accepts payment for Equiano's manumission.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/chapters/viii)

Equiano's former master; presses Equiano to stay with his vessel for one more voyage to Georgia.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/chapters/ix)

Equiano's former master in Montserrat; gives him a certificate of good behavior and advises him to stay and acquire land and slaves.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters/robert_king
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_interesting_narrative_of_the_life_of_olaudah_se/characters