Abolitionist

The 1778 Knight v Wedderburn case: A landmark decision in the fight against slavery in Scotland

The 1778 case of Knight v Wedderburn is a significant turning point in the history of slavery and the fight for freedom in Scotland. Joseph Knight, an enslaved man from Guinea, challenged his master, …

James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw

Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, also known as James Albert, is said to be the first published black author in Britain. His autobiography, A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James …

Abolitionists and revolutionaries – 7 Black women you should know about

Here are seven Caribbean and American women who were abolitionists, revolutionaries and activists. These women fought to free their people from the chains of slavery, discrimination and the lasting …

Flore Bois Gaillard – Saint Lucian revolutionary

Flore Bois Gaillard was a St Lucian runaway slave who led a band of free slaves called ‘Armée Française Dans Les Bois (French Army in the Woods). The life of Flore Bois Gaillard Flore Bois …

Olaudah Equiano – Writer and abolitionist

Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-1797) was an eighteenth-century African writer whose experiences as a slave prompted him to become involved in the British abolition movement. Early years Equiano was …

The Somerset v Stewart Case: A Landmark Decision in the History of Slavery and Abolition

The Somerset v Stewart case, also known as Sommersett v Steuart, Somersett’s case, and the Mansfield Judgment, was a pivotal legal case in the history of slavery and abolition. Decided in 1772 …

The abolition of slavery in Britain: A historical journey

‍The abolition of slavery in Britain marked a significant turning point in history, leading to the end of a brutal and inhumane practice that Britain had been involved in for centuries. Between …

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman escaped slavery to become a leading abolitionist. She led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom along the route of the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was born in Dorchester …

Before Rosa Parks – Ida B Wells

Ida B Wells was born into slavery on July 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her father, James, was a carpenter, and her mother, Elizabeth, was a famous cook. Both parents were literate and …

Ottobah Cugoano: African abolitionist and writer

Ottobah Cugoano, also known as John Stuart, was an African abolitionist who played a prominent role in the fight against slavery in England during the latter half of the 18th century. Born in …

Thomas Jennings – Inventor

Thomas Jennings (1791-1859) Thomas Jennings was born free in New York City in 1791. In his early 20s, he became a tailor but then opened a dry-cleaning business in New York. Thomas went on to …