Robert Adams was born, he claimed, around 1790 in Hudson, New York, to a white sailmaker and mixed-race mother. In addition to the name "Robert Adams", which he used in Europe, he had used the name "Benjamin Rose" when he left New York City in 1810 aboard the Charles. After a trip to Gibralter, the Charles sailed down the west coast of Africa, and struck a reef near Cape Blanco. The entire crew swam to shore, but were captured by a group of Moors. Robert Adams was enslaved for the next three years, changing hands several times.

In 1814 he arranged for his freedom to be purchased by the British consul Dupuis, and he made his way back to Europe, where he became a beggar in London. In 1815, he traded his tale for passage back to America with the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa.

Robert Adams was born, he claimed, around 1790 in Hudson, New York, to a white sailmaker and mixed-race mother. In addition to the name "Robert Adams", which he used in Europe, he had used the name "Benjamin Rose" when he left New York City in 1810 aboard the Charles. After a trip to Gibralter, the Charles sailed down the west coast of Africa, and struck a reef near Cape Blanco. The entire crew swam to shore, but were captured by a group of Moors. Robert Adams was enslaved for the next three years, changing hands several times.

In 1814 he arranged for his freedom to be purchased by the British consul Dupuis, and he made his way back to Europe, where he became a beggar in London. In 1815, he traded his tale for passage back to America with the Company of Merchants Trading to Africa.