Slave Compensation Act 1837

<p>The Slave Compensation Act 1837 (<a href="/facts/1_%2526_2_Vict./o55qYoFn">1 & 2 Vict.</a> c. 3) was an <a href="/facts/Act_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)/apqk8I13">act</a> of the <a href="/facts/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom/7bFbPI9g">Parliament of the United Kingdom</a>, signed into law on 23 December 1837.
</p><p>Together with the <a href="/facts/Slavery_Abolition_Act_1833/0H8xrA2E">Slavery Abolition Act 1833</a> (<a href="/facts/3_%2526_4_Will._4/vADfy64m">3 & 4 Will. 4</a>. c. 73), it authorized the <a href="/facts/Commissioners_for_the_Reduction_of_the_National_Debt/M6Y6n4DN">Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt</a> to compensate slave owners in the British colonies in the amount of approximately £20 million for the freeing of slaves. Based on a government census of 1 August 1834, more than 40,000 awards to slave owners were issued. Since some of the payments were converted into 3.5% government annuities, they lasted until 2015. Most were sold and the money sent abroad for investment.
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Slave Compensation Act 1837 open-in-new

Slave Compensation Act 1837