Slave Trade Act 1811
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
(51 Geo. 3) C A P. XXIII.
[14th May 1811]
'WHEREAS the Two Houses of Parliament did, by their Resolutions of the Tenth and Twenty fourth Days ofJune One thousand eight hundred and six, severally resolve, That the African Slave Trade being contrary to the Principles of Justice, Humanity and found Policy, they would, with all practicable Expedition, take effectual Measures for the Abolition of the same: And whereas, in conformity with the said Resolutions, and for all and each of the Reasonstherein stated, the said Trade was by an Act passed in the Forty seventh Year of His present Majesty, declared to be unlawful: And whereas it hath been found that divers Persons, not deterred by the Provisions and Penalties of the said Act, do still continue to deal and trade in Slaves upon the Coast ofAfrica and elsewhere, and to carry them for Sale by Sea: And whereas the Commons House of Parliament, by its Resolution of the Fifteenth of June One thousand eight hundred and ten, did express its Indignation at such Practices, and did resolve speedily to take into Consideration such Measures as might tend effectually to prevent such daring Violations of the Law: And whereas it is fit that such Measures should be extended also to the effectual Abolition of the Slave Trade wheresoever it may be attempted to practise it;' Be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authorityof the same, That if any Subject or Subjects of His Majesty, or if any Person or Persons residing or being within this United Kingdom, or in any of the Islands, Colonies, Dominions, Forts, Settlements, Factories or Territories now or hereafter belonging thereto, or being in His Majesty's Occupation or Possession, or under the Government of the United Company of Merchants trading to theEast Indies , shall, from and after the First Day of June next, by him or themselves, or by his or their Factors or Agents, or otherwise howsoever, carry away or remove, or aid or assist in in the carrying away or removing, as a Slave or Slaves, or for the Purpose of being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves, any Person or Persons whatsoever, from any Part of Africa , or from any other Country, Territory or Place whatsoever, either immediately, or by Transhipment at Sea or otherwise, directly or indirectly; or shall import or bring, or aid or assist in the importing or bringing into any Island, Colony, Country, Territory or Place whatsoever, any such Person or Persons as aforesaid, for the Purpose aforesaid; or shall knowingly and wilfully ship, embark, receive, detain or confine on board any Ship, Vessel or Boat, any such Person or Persons as aforesaid, for the Purpose of his, her or their being so carried away or removed, imported or brought as aforesaid, or of being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; or shall knowingly and wilfully use or employ, or permit to be used or employed, or let or take to Freight or on Hire any Ship or Vessel to be used or employed in carrying away or removing, importing or bringing, or for the Purpose of carrying away or removing importing or bringing as aforesaid, any such Person or Persons, as a Slave or Slaves, or for the Purpose of his, her or their being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; or shall fit out or cause to be fitted out, or shall take the Charge or Command of, or navigate, or enter and embark on board any such Ship or Vessel, as Master or Captain, Mate, Supercargo or Surgeon, knowing that such Ship or Vessel is actually employed, or is, in the same Voyage for which he or they shall so enter and embark on board, intended to be employed in carrying or removing, importing or bringing as aforesaid any such Person or Persons, as or for the Purpose of his, her or their being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; then and in every such case, the Person or Persons so offending, and their Counsellors, Aiders and Abettors, shall be and are hereby declared to be Felons, and shall be transported beyond Seas for a Termnot exceeding Fourteen Years, or shall be confined and kept to hard Labour for a Term not exceeding Five Years, nor less than Three...
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