Africans Historical immigration to Great Britain

during 18th century, small population of black people, thought number 15,000 mid-century, brought britain largely captain s share of cargo of transatlantic slave ships. many of these people became servants in aristocratic households , depicted in contemporary portraits of family – depicted in similar manner family pets. many black people became part of urban poor , depicted in caricatures , cartoons of william hogarth, others attained highly respected positions in society, e.g. ignatius sancho , francis barber – servant dr samuel johnson became beneficiary of will. these ships stopped carrying black people britain after banned slave trading in 1807.

following british defeat in american war of independence on 1,100 black loyalist troops had fought on losing side transported britain, ended destitute on london s streets , viewed social problem. committee relief of black poor formed. distributed relief , helped men go overseas, remained of british north america. in 1786, committee funded expedition of 280 black men, forty black women , seventy white wives , girlfriends sierra leone. settlement failed , within 2 years sixty of migrants had died.