Post by Red Rackham on Jan 30, 2024 16:46:07 GMT
The Royal Navy was the only force in the world that had the drive, willingness and firepower to curtail the slave trade.
After the end of the Napoleonic War, Britain, who had the largest navy in the world, negotiated with its allies for British ships to board all foreign vessels to check if they were “engaged in slavery”.
If they found slaves, the ship was seized and the slaves released, many on the island of St. Helena or on the coast of Africa.
The financial cost was huge. At its peak, the West Africa Squadron was using half the total budget for the Royal Navy, or the equivalent of 2% of the UK’s GDP. Moreover, between 1830 and 1865, almost 1,600 Royal Navy sailors from this squadron died either in action or from tropical diseases.
westafricasquadron.org/
After the end of the Napoleonic War, Britain, who had the largest navy in the world, negotiated with its allies for British ships to board all foreign vessels to check if they were “engaged in slavery”.
If they found slaves, the ship was seized and the slaves released, many on the island of St. Helena or on the coast of Africa.
The financial cost was huge. At its peak, the West Africa Squadron was using half the total budget for the Royal Navy, or the equivalent of 2% of the UK’s GDP. Moreover, between 1830 and 1865, almost 1,600 Royal Navy sailors from this squadron died either in action or from tropical diseases.
westafricasquadron.org/
