Caesar Tarrant

(c. 1740–1797) was an American boat pilot who served as a patriot in the American Revolutionary War. Born enslaved, Tarrant's skill as a pilot aboard the Patriot led to his manumission by the state after the war.

Early life

Tarrant was from Hampton, Virginia, home to many river boat pilots. Though enslaved, by the time he was a young adult he had learned how to pilot vessels through the nearby riverways. He was sold once after gaining this skill and it increased his sale price. He married Lucy, a woman enslaved by a different owner, and they had three children.