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Slave Trade Felony Act 1811

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Slave Trade Felony Act 1811
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for rendering more effectual an Act made in the Forty seventh Year of His Majesty's Reign, intituled, "An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade."
Citation51 Geo. 3. c. 23
Introduced byHenry Brougham
Territorial extent British Empire
Dates
Royal assent14 May 1811
Repealed6 August 1861
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1861
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Slave Trade Felony Act 1811 (51 Geo. 3. c. 23) was a piece of British legislation that made engagement in the slave trade a felony. The earlier Slave Trade Act 1807 merely imposed fines that were insufficient to deter entrepreneurs from engaging in such a profitable business. The contexts in which it could be applied and how these sat within international criminal law gave rise to controversy.[1] Henry Brougham was the principal proponent of the act.[1]

The first case brought under the act was that of Samuel Samo, who was tried by Chief Justice Robert Thorpe at the Vice-Admiralty Court in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The case was heard from 8 April to 11 April 1812.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Haslam, Emily (2012). "Redemption, Colonialism and International Criminal Law". In Kirkby, Diane (ed.). Past Law, Present Histories. Canberra, ACT: ANU E Press. ISBN 9781922144034.