Capture of Senegal
Further information: Great Britain in the Seven Years' WarCumming had travelled to West Africa extensively, and was aware of the enormous wealth and future potential of the French colonies along the Sénégal and Gambia rivers. He advocated to William Pitt, the Southern Secretary an expedition to seize these valuable settlements.
Pitt agreed to despatch a force in 1758 which in April arrived of West Africa. Cumming had gone ahead to meet with local African leaders to try and gain their support for the British attack. He was successful, and a number of African troops assisted the British in capturing the settlement of Saint Louis which fell without firing a shot.
Cumming made a fortune in captured goods which were brought back to London. Particularly valuable were the large amounts of gum arabic which were used by silk-weavers. Pitt was impressed enough to send two further expeditions which led to the capture of the island of Gorée and the French trading station on the Gambia.
Read more about this topic: Thomas Cumming
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