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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Other Subjects

King William IV, Duke of Clarence

King William IV, Duke of Clarence

The Duke of Clarence became King William IV (The Sailor King), reigning 1830 to 1837. Had a long live-in affair with the actress Mrs Jordan which produced 10 children, all given the surname FitzCla...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty

8 memorials
Rev. John Newton

Rev. John Newton

A slave-trader turned preacher and abolitionist.  Born Wapping.  Began his ecclesiastical career at Olney in Buckinghamshire where he wrote the words to 'Amazing Grace' and published the hymn in a ...

Person, Music / songs, Race Issues, Religion

1 memorial
Stephen Lushington

Stephen Lushington

Doctor of Civil Law, judge, MP, supporter of the campaigns for the abolition of slavery and of capital punishment.  Born Berkshire.  Died Surrey.

Person, Law, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
St Mary Woolnoth

St Mary Woolnoth

Has a strong historical connection with the abolitionist movement of the 18th and 19th centuries.  Rev John Newton, a slave-trader turned preacher and abolitionist, was rector 1780 – 1807.  Carolin...

Building, Race Issues, Religion

1 memorial
Clementia Taylor

Clementia Taylor

Women's activist. Born Clementia Doughty at Brockdish, Norfolk. She married Peter Alfred Taylor in 1842, and they became involved with many social and political movements, particularly anti-slavery...

Person, Gender Issues, Race Issues, Social Welfare

1 memorial