Background
He was married to Evelina Danby, who is generally accepted to be the illegitimate daughter of J.M.W. Turner and his mistress Sarah Danby (1766–1861).
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Joseph Dupuis
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Together, they had seven children: Son: name unknown (1819-c1819), Daughter: Evelina Sarah Margaritta Dupuis(1821-c1821?), Son: William Dupuis (1823-c1823?), Daughter: Rosalie Adelaide Dupuis (1825–1900), Son: Joseph Hutton Dupuis (1827–1903), Son: Hanmer Lewis Dupuis (1829–1911), Daughter: Evelina Louisa Dupuis (1832-after 1875). Joseph Dupuis was a man of the highest reputation among his peers. He devoted much of his life to freeing Christian slaves in North Africa, and was regarded as one of the leading experts of his time on Morocco and the Sahara.
The British Consul at Mogador was well known for paying high prices to free Christian slaves in North Africa.
Upon learning of a wreck involving Christian sailors, Dupuis would send a Moroccan staff member to attempt to locate the crew, who were usually enslaved shortly after reaching shore, as Christian slaves were sought after by Moors and Africans alike. This employee of the Consul would negotiate the terms of their redemption from their master, usually by paying for their freedom or trading for them.
During his tenure as British Vice-Consul in Mogador, Dupuis secured the freedom of many Christian sailors from the hardships of slavery, and in many cases, death. This work was later carried out by his successor in the post.
Dupuis partnered a successful mercantile establishment that was engaged in trading between Mogador and Great Britain with William Willshire.
When Dupuis returned to Britain in August 1814 he recommended Willshire to take over as British Vice Consul in Mogador, a recommendation that was accepted by the Foreign Office in London. Adams later ended up in London, where he told the full story of his experience as a Barbary slave in The Narrative of Robert Adams, published in 1816. Before Adams" Narrative was published, Dupuis fully corroborated all parts of the story where he was concerned.
Dupuis was completely satisfied as to the veracity of Adams" Narrative and was one of Adams" strongest supporters when the book received criticism in Europe.
After subsequent postings in North Africa he left the Consular Service apparently under a cloud. After the death of J.M.W. Turner they retired to England and Joseph applied unsuccessfully to be curator of Turner"s gallery.
They settled in Lambeth, where his brother"s family lived.
