British Crown symbol was branded on enslaved Africans, research finds
Summary
New research has found that enslaved Africans were marked with a branding iron that included a symbol of the British Crown. This discovery is part of a large project documenting British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade from 1563 to 1807.Key Facts
- A British Crown emblem, along with the South Sea Company logo, was branded on enslaved African people.
- The South Sea Company, founded in 1711, was involved in enslaving thousands of Africans.
- Letters from 1714 showed company leaders gave detailed instructions on slave branding and trade practices.
- The branding was meant to identify the company’s enslaved people from others.
- The British monarchy was financially linked to the slave trade, especially after the execution of King Charles I.
- The research project has created a database listing 13,000 people and many institutions connected to Britain’s slave trade.
- Buckingham Palace said King Charles supports better understanding and addressing the history of slavery.
- The project reveals that many types of people, from politicians to ordinary workers, helped finance the slave trade and built Britain’s wealth.
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