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)

C1 Short title given by Short Titles Act 1896 (c. 14)

C2 Act extended by Slave Trade Act 1843 (c. 98)

C3 Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1890 (c. 33)

1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 1, 13–38, 41–46, 48–82 and Schedule repealed by Slave Trade Act 1873 (c. 88), Sch. 2

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.

F2 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 3 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F3 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 4 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F4 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 5 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F5 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 6 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F6 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 7 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F7 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 8 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F8 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F8 S. 9 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

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. E+W+S

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; [F9 or 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,and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors, shall be [F10 guilty of an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years] . . . F11

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

F9 Words repealed (E.W.) by Forgery Act 1913 (c. 27), Sch.

F10 Words in s. 10 substituted (E.W.S.) (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 1

F11 Words omitted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2) and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21), s. 221(2)

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. N.I.

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; F22 . . . then and in every such case the person or persons so offending, [F23 shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years]

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only

Textual Amendments

F22 Words repealed by Forgery Act 1913 (c. 27), Sch.

F23 Words in s. 10 substituted by Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 18), Sch. 1 para. 7

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, [F12 and their procurers, counsellors, aiders, and abettors], shall be [F13 guilty of an offence], and shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

Textual Amendments

F12 Words repealed (N.I.) by Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 18), Sch. 2 Pt. II

F13 Words in s. 11 substituted (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 2

F14 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 12 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

13—38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F15 Ss. 1, 13–38, 41–46, 48–82 and Schedule repealed by Slave Trade Act 1873 (c. 88), Sch. 2

F16 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F16 S. 39 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F17 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F17 S. 40 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

41—46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F18 Ss. 1, 13–38, 41–46, 48–82 and Schedule repealed by Slave Trade Act 1873 (c. 88), Sch. 2

F19 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F19 S. 47 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

48—82. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F20 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F20 Ss. 1, 13–38, 41–46, 48–82 and Schedule repealed by Slave Trade Act 1873 (c. 88), Sch. 2

F21 F21 SCHEDULE U.K.

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

Textual Amendments

F21 Ss. 1, 13–38, 41–46, 48–82 and Schedule repealed by Slave Trade Act 1873 (c. 88), Sch. 2