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.

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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Other Subjects

Dr John Lettsom

Dr John Lettsom

Physician, philanthropist, abolitionist and entomologist. Born British Virgin Islands into a Quaker family. Aged 6 was sent to England to be educated. Came to London in 1766 to train at St Thomas' ...

Person, Medicine, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Virgin Islands

2 memorials
Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey

Pan-African nationalist leader. Born Marcus Mosiah Garvey in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914 to foster worldwide black unity, and moved its hea...

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

4 memorials
Frederick Horniman

Frederick Horniman

Tea merchant, benefactor and politician. Born Frederick John Horniman at Bridgwater, Somerset. He inherited his father's tea business, which by 1891 was described as the biggest tea firm in the wor...

Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Museums / Libraries, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Ceylon, India

3 memorials
Doctor Harold Moody

Doctor Harold Moody

Physician. Born Harold Arundel Moody at 8 Rum Lane, Kingston, Jamaica. Although well qualified, he was refused a post at King's College Hospital because of his colour, but became a medical superint...

Person, Medicine, Race Issues, Jamaica

1 memorial
Priscilla Wakefield

Priscilla Wakefield

Born Priscilla Bell in Tottenham. Quaker philanthropist and author of feminist economics, scientific subjects, travel, children's non-fiction. Best known book was 'The Juvenile Travellers' which ha...

Person, Children, Gender Issues, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial