Petition for transfer of Sierra Leone Company amid slave-trade abolition

Background. The Sierra Leone Company was the corporate body responsible for founding the second British colony in Africa in 1792 through the resettlement of Black Loyalists. Its formation was driven by abolitionists including Granville Sharp, Thomas Clarkson, and Henry Thornton. The company's operations were situated within a broader context of anti-slavery advocacy, which culminated in legislative efforts to prohibit the Atlantic slave trade in the British Empire.

Legislative Context. The Slave Trade Act 1807 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom prohibiting the Atlantic slave trade. It took effect on 1 May 1807, following years of legislative attempts. The act did not emancipate existing slaves but encouraged British action to press other nations to abolish their trades. The bill received royal assent on 25 March 1807, marking a significant victory for abolitionists in Parliament.

Company Transition. The Sierra Leone Company was succeeded in 1807 by the African Institution. This transition occurred amidst the legal prohibition of the slave trade. The company's role in founding the colony and its subsequent succession reflect the changing political and legal landscape in British colonial administration during the age of revolution and abolition.