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

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
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
Charles Grant

Charles Grant

Anti-slavery campaigner.  Born Scotland.  Made a fortune working for the British East India Company of which he became Chairman.  The death of two of his children brought about a religious conversi...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Religion, Scotland

1 memorial
Iolo Morganwg

Iolo Morganwg

Born Edward Williams in Glamorgan. Founder member of the Unitarian movement in Wales, an anti-slavery campaigner, and political radical who called himself "The Bard of Liberty". As a stonemason he ...

Person, Poetry, Race Issues, Wales

1 memorial
Robert Aske

Robert Aske

Son of a draper. Worked as a haberdasher; 1643 became a Freeman of the Haberdashers Company; 1666 elected an Alderman of the City of London. He became Master of the Haberdashers' Company. But the r...

Person, Philanthropy, Race Issues

1 memorial

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Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock

Film director. Born at 517 Leytonstone High Road above his father William’s greengrocery and poultry shop. See Spitalfields Life for an unusual take on his life in Leytonstone. When Alfie was about...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous

23 memorials
King George IV

King George IV

Regent: 1811 - 1820. Reigned: 1820 - 1830. After secretly marrying Mrs Fitzherbert, he then officially married Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Built the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. A statue of him ...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

17 memorials