BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE IN SCOTLAND :

he role played by Scots in the Slave Trade and in its Abolition has only been recently recognized. It did not become illegal to own a slave in Scotland until 1778. Until then it has been fashionable fo r wealthy families to have a young Black Boy or Girl attending them. Scottish news papers such as the Edinburgh Evening Courant and the Caledonia Mercury from 1740's to the 1770's carried adverts offering slaves for sale or reward for the capture of escape slaves. Two famous account by two Scottish seamen about voyages of slave ships from Africa to the Americas were written on there personal experiences. Thomas Smith from Arboath gave a graphic account of the cruelty inflicted on slaves on the Guinea Coast in the 1760's. Samuel Robinson from Wigtown wrote about his voyage on a slave ship in 1800, he was certain the slaves were much better off than the Crew on the slave ship.

Scots were in the forefront in fight to Abolish the Slave Trade in the British Empire. Scots who supported the freedom for slaves like Zachary Macaulay (1768 to 1838) William Dickson (1751 to 1823)  the two men fought tirelessly for the Abolition of the slave trade. Some Scots defended the slave trade, men like Archibold Daizel  ( 1740 - 1811)  James McQueen  (1778 to 1870)  were men who wanted to keep the Slave Trade going. These is the great divided about the slave trade in Scotland.