New research has revealed the extensive involvement of British figures, including monarchs and Members of Parliament, in the centuries-long trafficking of enslaved African people. The Register of British Slave Traders, a three-year project by specialist historians, documents investors in the transatlantic slave trade from the 1560s until its abolition in 1807.
The register provides biographical details for as many as 10,500 investors, offering a comprehensive overview of those involved in the enslavement of African people. This includes a series of British kings and queens, over 100 MPs from the Tory and Whig parties, and dozens of directors and original financiers of the Bank of England.
The research, led by Professor William Pettigrew of King's College London, highlights the deep integration of investors' wealth into the country's fabric, funding institutions such as hospitals and schools. The BBC is scheduled to broadcast a two-part documentary about the register, presented by historian David Olusoga.
The publication of the register is expected to contribute to the global movement advocating for European governments to acknowledge their role in enslavement, issue formal apologies, and engage in discussions for reparatory justice.