Somerset v Stewart

James Somerset ( also Somersett ) was an African slave who was bought by a certain Charles Stuart in 1749 at a young age in Virginia (USA). Stuart was an English government official and traveled in this capacity together with Somerset, who at that time did not have a name, in 1769 to England. There Somerset came into contact with members of the British anti - slavery movement, including the well-known activist Granville Sharp. Furthermore, he was baptized a Christian at this time.

1771 Somerset fled. His owner offered a reward, and it was taken. Stuart brought Somerset to a ship towards Jamaica, where Somerset was to be sold. His godparents were told of its location, subject, citing the habeas corpus act in court and obtained that the captain of the Jamaica Somerset driver had passed shuffle mode.

Public opinion was overwhelmingly opposed slavery and the time was ripe for a decision on whether slavery in England is admissible or not. Somerset complained before the King 's Bench, the highest court of England, against Stuart on release. He was supported by anti-slavery activists. Stuart in turn was supported by planters from the West Indies, who had a vested interest in the continued existence of slavery.

On June 22, 1772 Lord Mansfield announced the judgment of the Court of Justice: release of James Somerset, since the institution of slavery was neither moral nor could be justified politically and never allowed by law:

Thus slavery in England itself was found to be illegal. Therefore, after a bill to abolish slavery in Britain was never adopted. However, the slavery in other parts of the British Empire and the British citizen participation in the slave trade remained unaffected and continued on until 1807, when the British Parliament decided to combat the slave trade. The abolition of slavery in all parts of the Empire took place only in 1833.