Key facts
- Enslaved African people were branded with an emblem of the British Crown, according to new research.
- The Register of British Slave Traders lists 13,000 individuals and hundreds of institutions involved in the slave trade between 1563 and 1807.
- The South Sea Company, founded in 1711, trafficked thousands of enslaved Africans and used the Crown emblem for branding.
- Letters from 1714 revealed that directors instructed slave traders to mark enslaved people on their left shoulder with the emblem to identify them.
- King Charles has stated his commitment to understanding slavery and addressing historic wrongs.
- Jamaica's government intends to petition King Charles for slavery reparations.
Enslaved African people were branded with an emblem of the British Crown, a practice that symbolized the monarchy's deep involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, according to new research. The Register of British Slave Traders project, led by Prof William Pettigrew of King's College London, has documented the financial contributions of approximately 13,000 individuals and hundreds of institutions to Britain's role in slavery between 1563 and 1807.
Dr. Nicholas Radburn, a historian at Lancaster University and co-investigator, discovered records of the branding while examining archives at the British Library. He found that the South Sea Company, established in 1711 and responsible for trafficking thousands of enslaved Africans, used an emblem combining the Crown with its own logo. Letters from 1714 revealed that the company's London-based directors provided detailed instructions to their slave traders, known as "factors," in the Americas. These instructions included marking enslaved individuals on their left shoulder with the emblem to distinguish them from others.
Pettigrew described the branding as a "dramatic and harrowing" symbol of the monarchy's relationship with slavery. He noted that members of the royal family, during times of financial difficulty, had relaunched the monarchy's finances and reputation by investing in the slave trade. He emphasized the distinction between the institution of the monarchy, which remains the same, and the individuals who led it.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying King Charles is committed to promoting understanding of slavery and addressing historic wrongs. The King is "grateful to all those undertaking academic work in this area," the statement added.
The research highlights how individuals from various professions, including monarchs, politicians, plumbers, and clergymen, financed the slave trade, which contributed to England's enslavement of around three million African men, women, and children. An estimated half a million died during the forced transportation.
In parallel, African and Caribbean nations continue to call for formal apologies and reparations. Jamaica's government announced its intention to petition King Charles, as head of state, to refer questions about the legality of enslavement in Jamaica to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, hoping to pave the way for a settlement for the "most horrific abuse" endured by their ancestors.