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

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria

Reigned: 1837-1901, 64 years. Born Kensington Palace. Daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg. Niece of her predecessor, King William IV. Her first name was Alexandrin...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

72 memorials
Sir Otto Beit

Sir Otto Beit

Financier, philanthropist, and art connoisseur.  Born Berlin.  Younger brother to Alfred and made his fortune the same way: mining diamonds.  Came to London in 1896 and took British citizenship.  G...

Person, Industry, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Germany

1 memorial
Mary Prince

Mary Prince

First African woman to publish her memoirs of slavery. Born Bermuda.  The daughter of slaves, she was first sold aged 10 for £20. Eventually bought for $300 in 1818 by John Wood who moved his whole...

Person, Literature, Race Issues, Antigua, Bermuda

1 memorial
Sir Thomas Bloodworth

Sir Thomas Bloodworth

As Lord Mayor of London 1665-6 he was sorely tested and found wanting.  As the fire advanced he alone had the authority to create fire-breaks by demolishing buildings but he refused to make such an...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
John Richard Archer

John Richard Archer

Political activist. Born at 3 Blake Street, Liverpool. He travelled the world as a seaman, living in Canada and the USA, before eventually settling in Battersea, where he opened a photographic stud...

Person, Photography, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Canada, USA

2 memorials