Background
James Cleveland was born to William Clevland, an Anglo-Scot, and Ndamba, a Kissi woman, on the Banana Islands off Sierra Leone. His father had been working as a trader for the Royal African Company.
James Cleveland was born to William Clevland, an Anglo-Scot, and Ndamba, a Kissi woman, on the Banana Islands off Sierra Leone. His father had been working as a trader for the Royal African Company.
His ship went aground off the Banana Islands in 1730. Settling there with other survivors, his father appointed himself as king. When Cleveland returned to Sierra Leone, the young man was initiated into the Poro society of men in the Banana Islands.
Cleveland married and had a son William, named after his father.
His succession as king, when the elder Cleveland died, was contested by Stephen Caulker. William Cleveland served as king from 1791 to 1797, when he was killed by Caulker.