Loring D. Dewey

Loring Daniel Dewey (1791–1867) was an early 19th-century Presbyterian minister, an agent of the American Colonization Society, an active supporter of colonization societies, a printer, and a reformer.

Political work Dewey was a supporter of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which was established to relocate free Blacks from the United States to other countries, especially those in Africa. In a pamphlet issued to promote its efforts, Dewey stated that colonization was "the only possible means of gradually ridding the United States of a mighty evil, and of obliterating the foulest stain upon our nation's honor" - that is, free Blacks were a reminder of slavery. He believed they were a threat to the security and wellbeing of the country since he did not think they could be assimilated into larger society. He predicted that all Black people, with the exception of "the aged free lacks," would have immigrated out of the USA within a few decades.

Despite the success of the relocation to Haiti, the ACS fired Dewey for writing to Boyer without their permission. The organization opposed his project because it went against their goal of promoting Black colonization in West Africa, though Dewey later shared that he had been told by Black people that they would prefer to move to Haiti over Africa and by white people who would be more willing to financially support the relocation to the Caribbean. Granville's personal correspondence with Boyer show that Dewey was interested in being the Haitian diplomat in the USA but Boyer refused the offer. In 1825, Boyer entered negotiations with France for recognition and agreed to pay indemnity to former planters. Because of this, Haiti's resources were depleted and they were unable to continue supporting emigration.

In the 1830s Dewey became an active member of the American Peace Society and Temperance Society and published pamphlets promoting social reform for both.