Absalom Boston (c. 1785–1855) was a United States mariner who was the first African-American captain to sail a whaling ship, with an all-black crew, in 1822.

[2] His uncle,[3] a slave named Prince Boston, was part of the crew of a 1770 whaling voyage, but refused to turn over his earnings to his white master.

[2] In 1822, Boston became the captain of the Industry, a whaleship manned entirely with an African-American crew.

The six-month journey returned with 70 barrels of whale oil and the entire crew intact.

[5] Boston retired from the sea after the Industry returned to Nantucket from its historic voyage.