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

Lady Byron

Lady Byron

Born as Anne Isabella Milbanke, sometimes known as Annabella, an heiress in her own right. Unusually well-educated. An unwise marriage to Lord Byron in January 1815 lasted only a year but did produ...

Person, Education, Friend / family, Race Issues

1 memorial
Leslie Hutchinson

Leslie Hutchinson

Singer and pianist who performed under the name of 'Hutch'. Born Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson in Gouyave, Grenada.  He moved to New York with the intention of studying medicine, but started sing...

Person, Music / songs, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands, USA

1 memorial
Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane

Physician, benefactor of the British Museum and an early benefactor to the Chelsea Physic Garden. Responsible for the addition of milk to chocolate to produce a palatable drink. Born Killyleagh, Ir...

Person, Benefactor, Medicine, Museums / Libraries, Race Issues, Science, Ireland

7 memorials
William Wilberforce (abolitionist)

William Wilberforce (abolitionist)

Politician, philanthropist and slavery abolitionist. Born in High Street, Hull. Entered parliament in 1780 and became a close ally of William Pitt the Younger. He converted to evangelical Christian...

Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

8 memorials
Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King

One of the world's most famous civil rights activists, born Michael King Jr. A Baptist minister, he visited London in December 1964 on his way to Oslo to collect his Nobel Peace Prize. He stayed at...

Person, Race Issues, Religion, Seriously Famous, Tragedy, USA

4 memorials

Previously viewed

Middlesex Hospital and Barnato and Joel

Middlesex Hospital and Barnato and Joel

W1, Nassau Street

We had not heard of the Barnato-Joel family before coming across this plaque. If the web can be believed they are a tragic family. Do ...

3 subjects commemorated, 10 creators