Slave Trade Records from Liverpool, 1754-1792 - Key Data

This collection offers a window into one of the darkest episodes of Britain’s history. Over the course of the 18th century, Liverpool became Britain’s busiest and most profitable slave-trading port in the country. The practice of slavery was abolished in 1807 but not before British merchants had gained unimaginable wealth at the expense of enslaved African people, who were sold to new markets in the Americas.

This collection contains the papers of merchants who were involved in this transatlantic slave trade during the period 1754-1792. The documents cover all aspects of the trade, from payments made by slave owners to dealings with groups along the coast of West Africa. The collection provides a sinister insight into the dehumanisation of slaves and the profit motive that fuelled the practice during the 18th century.

In order to aid with the context and navigation of this collection, a contextual essay and archive guide by Professor Kenneth Morgan is attached. Additionally, the papers of captain and ship-owner James Brown, from the post-abolition period (ca. 1807-1851), are included as a supplement.