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

Lord Teignmouth, John Shore

Lord Teignmouth, John Shore

Anti-slavery campaigner.  Born St James Street, Piccadilly but brought up in Romford.  1769 went to work in Bengal where he was one of the first to learn a number of the local languages.  Like many...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Religion, Indian Sub-continent

1 memorial
Henry Sylvester Williams

Henry Sylvester Williams

Anti-slavery and civil rights campaigner.  Born Trinidad.  After the USA he arrived in London in 1896 to study.  Qualified in law.  Elected in 1906 for Church Street Ward, the first black councillo...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Caribbean Islands

1 memorial
Bishop Beilby Porteus

Bishop Beilby Porteus

Born York. Bishop of London 1787 - 1809. The first senior church official to support the abolition of slavery. Died at Fulham Palace.

Person, Race Issues, Religion

1 memorial
David Hartley

David Hartley

Politician and inventor of fireproofing systems. Born in Bath, he moved to London where he met and became close friends with Benjamin Franklin. As an MP, he represented Kingston-upon-Hull and becam...

Person, Engineering, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, USA

2 memorials
Lord Holland, Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland

Lord Holland, Henry Richard Vassall-Fox, 3rd Baron Holland

Whig politician. Grandson of the first Baron, and nephew of Charles James Fox. Born Wiltshire and orphaned by the age of 5. Owned 401 slaves. Express Informer provides "‘By the unexpected death of...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial