British Profiteering from Brazilian Slavery Post-Abolition

Despite the UK’s legal prohibition on owning enslaved people overseas established in 1845, British companies continued to exploit enslaved individuals in Brazil. A notable case involved the St John d’El Rey mining company, which “rented” 385 captives in 1845, circumventing the law. This practice was permitted under the 1843 Slave Trade Act, allowing for a maximum rental term of 14 years, after which the enslaved individuals were supposed to be freed. However, this did not occur, and it took over three decades for the case to be exposed by Brazilian abolitionist Joaquim Nabuco, leading to the release of only 123 survivors in 1879.

The Guardian

British banks played a significant role in perpetuating slavery in Brazil by treating enslaved individuals as collateral for loans and mortgages. When debtors defaulted, banks auctioned off enslaved people to recover their investments. A notable incident occurred in 1878 in Rio de Janeiro, where a mother was separated from her young son during an auction. This financial entanglement highlights the complicity of British financial institutions in the Brazilian slave trade, which persisted despite legal prohibitions.

The Guardian

The Brazilian slave trade was effectively curtailed only with the introduction of a new law in 1850, following pressure from the UK. However, this came after approximately 750,000 Africans had been illegally trafficked to Brazil since the initial ban in 1831. Historian Joseph Mulhern emphasizes that British officials were aware of the connections between British commercial interests and the Brazilian slave trade, yet they failed to take adequate action against these practices.

The Guardian

Mulhern argues that the narrative surrounding British involvement in slavery is often framed in a self-congratulatory manner, portraying the UK as a moral leader against the slave trade. He asserts that this perspective overlooks the extensive complicity of British citizens and companies in the exploitation of enslaved people in Brazil. The myth of British benevolence towards enslaved individuals is debunked through an analysis of the violence and abuse they suffered, which contradicts the notion of “benevolent masters.”

The Guardian

• “These connections [between the UK and Brazilian slavery] are very much overlooked,” — Joseph Mulhern, Historian

The Guardian

• “An analysis of the treatment of those enslaved, including illegal enslavement, acts of physical violence and sexual assault, quickly dispels that myth,” — Joseph Mulhern, Historian

The Guardian

The legacy of British involvement in Brazilian slavery extends beyond the abolition of the practice in 1888, the last country in the Americas to do so. The historical connections between British commercial interests and the slave trade reveal a complex narrative that challenges the simplistic portrayal of British moral superiority in the fight against slavery. The ongoing examination of this history is crucial for understanding the broader implications of colonialism and exploitation.

The Guardian