Search Legislation

Slave Trade Act 1824

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes over time for: Slave Trade Act 1824

 Help about opening options

Version Superseded: 19/11/1998

Alternative versions:

Status:

Point in time view as at 01/02/1991.

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Slave Trade Act 1824. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Legislation Crest

Slave Trade Act 1824

1824 CHAPTER 113 5 Geo 4

An Act to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

[24th June 1824]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Short title given by Short Titles Act 1896 (c. 14)

C3Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1890 (c. 33)

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1U.K.

Textual Amendments

2 The purchase, sale, or contract for slaves declared unlawful; as also the exportation and importation of slaves; the shipping of slaves in order to exportation or importation; the fitting out vessels; making loans or guarantees; the shipping of goods, &c. or serving on board ships employed for any of the aforesaid purposes; or the insuring of slave adventures.U.K.

It shall not be lawful for any persons to deal or trade in, purchase, sell, barter, or transfer, or to contract for the dealing or trading in, purchase, sale, barter, or transfer of slaves, or persons intended to be dealt with as slaves; or to carry away, or remove, or to contract for the carrying away or removing of slaves or other persons, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or to import or bring, or to contract for the importing or bringing into any place whatsoever slaves or other persons, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or to ship, tranship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board, or to contract for the shipping, transhipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, slaves or other persons, for the purpose of their being carried away or removed, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or to ship, tranship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board, or to contract for the shipping, transhipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, slaves or other persons, for the purpose of their being imported or brought into any place whatsoever as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or to fit out, man, navigate, equip, despatch, use, employ, let, or take to freight or on hire, or to contract for the fitting out, manning, navigating, equipping, despatching, using, employing, letting, or taking to freight or on hire, any ship, vessel, or boat, in order to accomplish any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or to lend or advance, or become security for the loan or advance, or to contract for the lending or advancing, or becoming security for the loan or advance of money, goods, or effects employed or to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or to become guarantee or security, or to contract for the becoming guarantee or security, for agents employed or to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or in any other manner to engage or to contract to engage directly or indirectly therein as a partner, agent, or otherwise; or to ship, tranship, lade, receive, or put on board, or to contract, for the shipping, transhipping, lading, receiving or putting on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, money, goods, or effects to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or to take the charge or command, or to navigate or enter and embark on board, or to contract for the taking the charge or command, or for the navigating or entering and embarking on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, as captain, master, mate, petty officer, surgeon, super-cargo, seaman, marine, or servant, or in any other capacity, knowing that such ship, vessel, or boat is actually employed, or is in the same voyage, or upon the same occasion, in respect of which they shall so take the charge or command, or navigate or enter and embark, or contract so to do as aforesaid, intended to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or to insure or to contract for the insuring of any slaves, or any property, or other subject matter, engaged or employed or intended to be engaged or employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful.

3 Penalty for dealing in slaves, or exporting or importing them, &c.; or shipping slaves for the purpose of exportation or importation.U.K.

If any persons shall deal or trade in, purchase, sell, barter, or transfer, or contract for the dealing or trading in, purchase, sale, barter, or transfer of slaves, or persons intended to be dealt with as slaves; or shall carry away or remove or contract for the carrying away or removing of slaves or other persons, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or shall import or bring or contract for the importing or bringing into any place whatsoever slaves or other persons as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or shall ship, tranship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board, or contract for the shipping, transhipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, slaves or other persons, for the purpose of their being carried away or removed, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or to ship, tranship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board, or contract for the shipping, transhipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, slaves or other persons, for the purpose of their imported or brought into any place whatsoever, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; then and in every such case the persons so offending, [F2and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors], shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain for each and every slave so dealt or traded in, purchased, sold, bartered, or transferred, carried away, removed, imported, brought, shipped, transhipped, embarked, received, detained, or confined on board, or so contracted for as aforesaid; the one moiety thereof to the use of his Majesty, and the other moiety to the use of any person who shall inform, sue, and prosecute for the same; and all property or pretended property in such slaves or persons as aforesaid shall also be forfeited, and the said slaves or persons shall and may be seized and prosecuted as herein-after is mentioned and provided.

Textual Amendments

4 Penalty for fitting out slave ships.U.K.

If any persons shall fit out, man, navigate, equip, despatch, use, employ, let or take to freight or on hire, or contract for the fitting out, manning, navigating, equipping, despatching, using, employing, letting or taking to freight or on hire, any ship, vessel, or boat, in order to accomplish any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, such ship, vessel, or boat, together with all her boats, guns, tackle, apparel, and furniture, and together likewise with all property, goods, or effects found on board belonging to the owner or owners, part owner or part owners of any such ship, vessel, or boat, shall become forfeited, and may and shall be seized and prosecuted as herein-after is mentioned and provided.

5 Penalty for embarking capital in the slave trade.U.K.

If any persons shall knowingly and wilfully lend or advance, or become security for the loan or advance, or shall contract for the lending or advancing, or becoming security for the loan or advance of money, goods, or effects employed or to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, then and in every such case the persons so offending, [F3and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors], shall forfeit and pay for every such offence double the value of all the money, goods, and effects so lent, advanced, or secured or so contracted for as aforesaid, to be recovered and applied as is herein-after mentioned and provided.

Textual Amendments

6 Penalty for guaranteeing slave adventures.U.K.

If any persons shall knowingly and wilfully become guarantee or security, or contract for the becoming guarantee or security, for agents employed or to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, or shall in any other manner engage or contract to engage directly or indirectly therein as a partner, agent, or otherwise, then and in every such case the persons so offending, [F4and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors], shall forfeit and pay for every such offence double the value of all the money, goods, and effects so by them secured or contracted so to be as aforesaid, to be recovered and applied as is herein-after mentioned and provided.

Textual Amendments

7 Penalty for shipping goods to be employed in the slave trade.U.K.

If any person shall knowingly and wilfully ship, tranship, lade, receive, or put on board, or contract for the shipping, transhipping, lading, receiving, or putting on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, any money, goods, or effects to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, then and in every such case the persons so offending, [F5and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors], shall forfeit and pay for every such offence double the value of all the money, goods, and effects so shipped, transhipped, laden, received, or put on board, or contracted so to be as aforesaid, to be recovered and applied as is herein-after mentioned and provided.

Textual Amendments

8 Penalty for insuring slave adventures.U.K.

If any person shall knowingly and wilfully insure or contract for the insuring of any slaves, or any property or other subject matter engaged or employed, or intended to be engaged or employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, then and in every such case the person so offending, [F6and their procurers, counsellers, aiders, and abettors], shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain for every such insurance or contract for the same, and also treble the amount of the premium of any such insurance or contract for the same, the one moiety thereof to the use of his Majesty, and the other moiety to the use of any person who shall inform, sue, and prosecute for the same, and every such insurance shall be absolutely null and void.

Textual Amendments

9 Dealing in slaves on the high seas, &c. to be deemed piracy.U.K.

If any subject of subjects of his Majesty, or any person or persons residing or being within any of the dominions, forts, settlements, factories, or territories now or hereafter belonging to his Majesty, or being in his Majesty’s occupation or possession or under the government of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, shall, upon the high seas, or in any haven, river, creek, or place where the admiral has jurisdiction, knowingly and wilfully carry away, convey, or remove or aid, or assist in carrying away, conveying, or removing, any person or persons as a slave or slaves, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being imported or brought as a slave or slaves into any island, colony, country, territory, or place whatsoever, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being sold, transferred, used, or dealt with as a slave or slaves, or shall, upon the high seas, or within the jurisdiction aforesaid, knowingly and wilfully ship, embark, receive, detain, or confine, or assist in shipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining, on board any ship, vessel, or boat, any person or persons for the purpose of his, her, or their being carried away, conveyed, or removed as a slave or slaves, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being imported or brought as a slave or slaves into any island, colony, country, territory, or place whatsoever, 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 shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of [F7piracy, felony, and robbery][F7a misdemeanour, and shall be liable to imprisonment for life], . . . F8

Textual Amendments

F7Words “a misdemeanour” to “life” substituted (N.I.) for words “piracy, felony and robbery” by Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 18), Sch. 1 para. 7

10 Persons dealing in slaves, or exporting or importing slaves; or shipping slaves in order to exportation or importation; or fitting out slave ships; or embarking capital in the slave trade; or guaranteeing slave adventurers; or shipping goods, &c. to be employed in the slave trade; or serving on board slave ships as captain, master, &c. surgeon, &c.; or insuring slave adventures; or forging instruments relating to the slave laws; declared guilty of felony, &c. U.K.

If any persons shall deal or trade in, purchase, sell, barter, or transfer, or contract for the dealing or trading in, purchase, sale, barter, or transfer of slaves, or persons intended to be dealt with as slaves, or shall carry away or remove, or contract for the carrying away or removing of slaves or other persons, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves, or shall import or bring, or contract for the importing or bringing into any place whatsoever slaves or other persons, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves, or shall ship, tranship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board, or contract for the shipping, transhipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, slaves or other persons, for the the purpose of their being carried away or removed, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or shall ship, tranship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board, or contract for the shipping, transhipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, slaves or other persons, for the purpose of their being imported or brought into any place whatsoever, as or in order to their being dealt with as slaves; or shall fit out, man, navigate, equip, despatch, use, employ, let, or take to freight or on hire, or contract for the fitting out, manning, navigating, equipping, despatching, using, employing, letting, or taking to freight or on hire any ship, vessel, or boat, in order to accomplish any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or shall knowingly and wilfully lend or advance, or become security for the loan or advance, or contract for the lending or advancing, or becoming security for the loan or advance, of money, goods, or effects employed or to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or shall knowingly and wilfully become guarantee or security, or contract for the becoming guarantee or security, for agents employed or to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, or in any other manner to engage or to contract to engage directly or indirectly therein as a partner, agent, or otherwise; or shall knowingly and wilfully ship, tranship, lade, receive, or put on board, or contract for the shipping, transhipping, lading, receiving, or putting on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, money, goods, or effects to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or shall take the charge or command, or navigate, or enter and embark on board, or contract for the taking the charge or command, or for the navigating or entering and embarking on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, as captain, master, mate, surgeon, or supercargo, knowing that such ship, vessel, or boat is actually employed or is, in the same voyage or upon the same occasion in respect of which they shall so take the charge or command, or navigate or enter and embark, or contract so to do as aforesaid, intended to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; or shall knowingly and wilfully insure or contract for the insuring of any slaves, or any property or other subject matter engaged or employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful; [F9or shall wilfully and fraudulently forge or counterfeit any certificate, certificate of valuation, sentence or decree of condemnation or restitution, copy of sentence or decree of condemnation or restitution, or any receipt (such receipts being required by this Act), or any part of such certificate, certificate of valuation, sentence or decree of condemnation or restitution, copy of sentence or decree of condemnation or restitution, or receipt as aforesaid; or shall knowingly and wilfully utter or publish the same, knowing it to be forged or counterfeited, with intent to defraud his Majesty, or any other person or persons whatsoever, or any body politic or corporate;] then and in every such case the person or persons so offending, [F10and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors, shall be and are hereby declared to be felons, and shall be transported beyond seas for a term not exceeding fourteen years][F10shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years] . . . F11

Textual Amendments

F9Words repealed (E.W.)(N.I.) by Forgery Act 1913 (c. 27), Sch.

F10Words “shall be guilty” to “fourteen years” substituted (N.I.) for words “and their procurers” to the end by Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 18), Sch. 1 para. 7

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4Reference to transportation to be construed as reference to imprisonment: Penal Servitude Act 1857 (c. 3), Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(1) and Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), s. 221(1)

11 Seamen, &c. serving on board such ships guilty of misdemeanor.U.K.

If any persons shall enter embark on board, or contract for the entering and embarking on board of any ship, vessel, or boat, as petty officer, seaman, marine, or servant, or in any other capacity not herein-before specifically mentioned, knowing that such ship, vessel, or boat is actually employed or is, in the same voyage or upon the same occasion in respect of which they shall so enter and embark on board, or contract so to do as aforesaid, intended to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects, or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have herein-before been declared unlawful, then and in every such case the persons so offending, [F12and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors], shall be and they are hereby declared to be guilty of a misdemeanor only, and shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

Textual Amendments

12 Saving the option to sue for penalties in the Vice Admiralty Courts.U.K.

Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained, making piracies, felonies, robberies, and misdemeanors of the several offences aforesaid, shall be construed to repeal, annul, or alter the provisions and enactments in this Act also contained, imposing forfeitures and penalties or either of them upon the same offences, or to repeal, annul, or alter the remedies given for the recovery thereof; but that the said provisions and enactments imposing forfeitures and penalties shall in all respects by deemed and taken to be in full force, . . . F13

Textual Amendments

13—38.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14U.K.

Textual Amendments

39 All securities given in contravention of this Act shall be void.U.K.

Every mortgage, bond, bill, note, or other security, made in or to accomplish any of the objects or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have by this Act been declared unlawful, shall, except in the case of a bonaâ fide purchaser or holder of any such of the said securities as are in their nature negotiable, who may have purchased or obtained the same without notice that the same were made or given for any such unlawful purposes, be void.

40 In what cases offenders shall be exempted.U.K.

Provided always, that if any person or persons offending as a petty officer, seaman, marine, or servant, against any of the provisions of this Act, shall, within two years after the offence committed, give information on oath before any competent magistrate against any owner or part owner, or any captain, master, mate, surgeon, or supercargo of any ship or vessel, who shall have committed any offence against this Act, and shall give evidence on oath against such owner or part owner, captain, master, mate, surgeon, or supercargo, before any magistrate or court before whom such offender may be tried; or if such person or persons so offending shall give information to any of his Majesty’s ambassadors, ministers plenipotentiary, envoys, chargés d’affaires, consuls, residents, or other agents, so that any person or persons owing such ship or vessel, or navigating or taking charge of the same, as captain, master, mate, surgeon, or supercargo, may be apprehended; such person or persons so giving information and evidence shall not be liable to any of the pains or penalties under this Act incurred in respect of his offence, and his Majesty’s ambassadors, ministers plenipotentiary, envoys, chargés d’affaires, consuls, residents, or other agents, are hereby required to receive any such information as aforesaid, and to transmit the particulars thereof, without delay, to one of his Majesty’s principal secretaries of state, and to transmit copies of the same to the commanders of his Majesty’s ships or vessels then being in the said port or place.

41—46.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15U.K.

Textual Amendments

47 Limitation of suits for penalties and forfeitures.U.K.

All actions, indictments, or informations, for the recovery of any of the penalties or forfeitures under this Act, may be commenced, had, brought, sued, exhibited, or prosecuted at any time within five years after the offence committed, by reason whereof such penalty or forfeiture shall be incurred: Provided always, that where any slave or slaves have been, or shall at any time have been illegally imported, nothing herein contained shall extend to prevent proceeding being commenced to obtain the condemnation or forfeiture thereof, but that the said slave or slaves so illegally imported shall and may be condemned and forfeited at any time after such illegal importation.

48—82.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16U.K.

Textual Amendments

F17F17SCHEDULEU.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources