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

Admiral Arthur Phillip

Admiral Arthur Phillip

Founder and first governor of Australia. Born in the ward of Bread Street. Entered the Royal Navy 1753. In 1787 he led a fleet of 11 ships, with a complement of four companies of marines as well a...

Person, Armed Forces, Exploring, Race Issues, Australia

1 memorial
Sir Robert Viner (or Vyner)

Sir Robert Viner (or Vyner)

Lord Mayor of London, 1674-5.  Born Warwick.  Goldsmith and banker.  Lived at  Swakeleys House in Ickenham, where a school is named for him.  Died Windsor. Involved in the slave trade.

Person, Lord Mayor, Race Issues

2 memorials
Robert Milligan

Robert Milligan

Merchant. Born in Dumfries. He grew up on his family's sugar plantation in Jamaica, and moved to London in 1779. He headed a group of powerful businessmen, who planned and built the West India Dock...

Person, Commerce, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands, Scotland

2 memorials
Zachary Macaulay

Zachary Macaulay

Anti-slavery campaigner. Born Scotland. Aged 16 emigrated to Jamaica and saw slavery first hand as a slave overseer on a sugar plantation. Returned to England 1789. Sister Jean’s husband, Thomas Ba...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Africa, Jamaica, Scotland

4 memorials
Darcus Howe

Darcus Howe

Broadcaster, writer and civil liberties campaigner. Born as Leighton Rhett Radford Howe in Moruga, Trinidad. He moved to England at the age of 18 and initially studied law before moving to journali...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Race Issues, TV & Radio, Caribbean Islands

2 memorials