Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: The Navy and the Suppression o…

Images(2)

Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: The Navy and the Suppression of the Slave Trade

AssociatedAssociated with Lord Mountbatten of Burma (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)

Medallist John Pinches, Medallists

DateMay 2004

Object NameMedal

MediumSterling Silver

ClassificationsMedals

AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS072500.55

Keywords

About MeThe British Atlantic slave trade was abolished in 1807 because of the pressure of public opinion led by the Evangelicals and the Quakers, but slavery as an institution continued until 1833. Most other nations followed the British lead; nevertheless an illegal trade, largely by Portuguese and Spanish slavers using American-built vessels, continued to Cuba and Brazil for half a century, in spite of all efforts to suppress it.

Some two million Africans were exported to America during the century before the trade was abolished (twice that number having been enslaved by coastal chiefs who sold them to European traders, though half of them died before reaching their destination); but the annual rate of export when the trade was illegal was greater than when it made the fortunes of towns such as Bristol, Liverpool or Nantes. Thus, in 1841, 12,000 Africans were landed in Cuba, 16,000 in Brazil and an unknown number elsewhere. The incident portrayed here is typical of many others. HMS Acorn, commanded by Commander John Adams, is seen chasing the Portuguese slaver Gabriel in the Mozambique Channel, where Adams made six captures in 1841. That year 5,139 slaves were liberated and landed at Sierra Leone from 78 vessels taken. The Mozambique area was popular with slavers at this time because of the blockade established by British cruisers in the Gulf of Guinea and the Bight of Benin.

Even so, it is doubtful if more than ten per cent of the slavers were captured. The trade did not really cease until after the American Civil War. Neither the ships of the Royal Navy, nor the treaties with coastal chieftains negotiated by naval officers on behalf of the British Foreign Office proved effective. The ships were too small and slow, compared with the fast Baltimore clippers purchased by the slave traders; and the unwillingness of other nations to permit the Right of Search made boarding a dangerous matter. Service in the West African Squadron based on Sierra Leone was unhealthy and unpopular. There were no medals and few rewards beyond the 'head money' earned by liberating slaves. However, the continuing presence of British cruisers roused the conscience of other nations against this iniquitous traffic in human beings: as one historian wrote, 'the unweary, unostentatious and inglorious crusade of England against slavery may be regarded as among the three or four perfectly virtuous pages comprised in the history of nations.'

The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.