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

Horatio, Lord Nelson

Horatio, Lord Nelson

Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. Naval commander who became a national hero as a result of his victories in the battle of the Nile (1798) and the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). He was mortally wounded...

Person, Armed Forces, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

17 memorials
Granville Sharp

Granville Sharp

Anti-slavery campaigner.  Born Durham.  1757 became Clerk in the Ordnance Office.  Became involved with the anti-slavery campaign by a personal involvement with an injured slave, Jonathan Strong, a...

Person, Law, Race Issues

1 memorial
Josiah Wedgwood

Josiah Wedgwood

Master potter. Born in Burslem, Stoke, Staffordshire, into a potters family. Married his cousin, Sally. Childhood smallpox left him with a limp. His inability to operate the potters wheel meant he ...

Person, Craft / Design, Industry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

4 memorials
League of coloured peoples

League of coloured peoples

Founded by Doctor Harold Moody. A civil-rights organisation with the aim of racial equality around the world. Although its primary purpose was black rights in Britain, it was also involved in other...

Group, Community / Clubs, Race Issues

1 memorial
Mydiddee

Mydiddee

He was the servant of a Tahitian chief, and it is believed that he was brought to England by Captain Bligh (6 years after the ill-fated Bounty assignment) to act as a cultural ambassador. Already i...

Person, Race Issues, Tragedy, Tahiti

1 memorial