Event    From 25/3/1807  To 1/8/1834

Abolition of slavery

The British abolition of slavery came in two parts: first the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act became law on 25 March 1807, which left slavery itself still permitted until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 which caused all slaves in the British Empire to be emancipated on 1 August 1834. The slaves in India and Ceylon were not freed until Britain took over from the East India Company in 1843.

Compensation was paid, but to the owners, not the slaves. Meticulous records were kept and have been analysed at Legacies of British Slave-ownership.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Abolition of slavery

Commemorated ati

Aboliton of slavery - SE1

{The statue stands at one end of a long composite stone slab inlaid with a de...

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Bronze Woman

This was the first statue of a black woman to be on permanent display anywher...

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Buxton Memorial Fountain

Due to strong shadows it was only on our fourth visit that we managed to take...

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Gilt of Cain - Slave trade

This sculpture, 'Gilt of Cain', was unveiled by Bishop Tutu in commemoration ...

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Holy Trinity Clapham - Clapham Sect

The damage on this plaque is the result of WW2 bombs.

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Show all 11

Other Subjects

Pocahontas

Pocahontas

Native American daughter of an Algonquian chief; birth date approximate. According to colonist John Smith, when he was being held captive by her tribe the 11-year old Pocahontas saved his life by b...

Person, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, Tragedy, USA

1 memorial
Sir Francis Drake

Sir Francis Drake

Sea captain, explorer and pirate. Born in Crowndale, near Tavistock, Devon. He spent his formative years in the house of his cousin Sir John Hawkins and by 1565 was voyaging to Guinea and the Spani...

Person, Exploring, Race Issues, Seriously Famous, Panama

6 memorials
King Edward I

King Edward I

Born Westminster. Nicknamed "Longshanks". Reigned 1272 - 1307. Responsible for the expulsion of Jews from England. Died near Carlisle on route to a battle with the king of Scotland, Robert the Bruc...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty

3 memorials
Ruy Barbosa

Ruy Barbosa

Born Ruy Barbosa D'Oliveira in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. A defender of civil liberties, he fought for the abolition of slavery in Brazil. He fled to London after being accused of being a conspirat...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Law, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Brazil

1 memorial
Bernie Grant

Bernie Grant

Politician. Born Bernard Alexander Montgomery Grant in Georgetown, British Guiana (now Guyana). His family emigrated to England in 1963, where he worked as a railway clerk and telephonist before be...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, South America

1 memorial