Parliament abolished the slave trade on this day in 1807. The prime mover here was William Wilberforce who had been banging his head against an uncaring system for years. It would be another quarter of a century before the owning of slaves was abolished and then, the former owners were paid a fortune in compensation.
(For any Year Tens reading this, thank a teacher ... sorry, wrong slogan. I mean, should you be worrying about that essay on slavery now scarily near its deadline, there are several excellent films you can watch and pretend to your parents you are working. One is the splendid Amistad, the other Amazing Grace.)
A pity the Americans didn't follow suit however. Hanging on to the 'peculiar institution' of slavery until 1863 cost them a civil war which was the bloodiest in American history.
Next time, dudes, take a leaf out of our book.
In other news ...
You've probably seen the excellent film The Last King of Scotland in which the late and unlamented Ugandan dictator Idi Amin strides around in a kilt and glengarry. Because of what happened today in 1306 somebody should start shooting another epic called The First Australian King of Scotland.
Why?
Because today in 1306 the eighth earl of Carrick took the Scots throne. His name was Robert the Bruce.
