William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield

William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (March 2, 1705 - March 20, 1793), was a British judge and politician who reached high office in the House of Lords.

Lord Mansfield and abolition of slavery

Lord Mansfield played a key role in smoothly ending slavery in England.

Related Topics:
Slavery - England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Somerset, a slave brought to England by his master, a Mr. Stewart of Virginia, brought suit against him on 14 May 1772. Lord Mansfield rendered his verdict in favor of Somerset on 22 June 1772.

Related Topics:
James Somerset - 14 May - 1772 - 22 June

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"On the part of Somerset, the case which we gave notice should be decided, this day, the Court now proceeds to give its opinion. The state of slavery is of such a nature, that it is incapable of being introduced on any reasons, moral or political; but only positive law, which preserves its force long after the reasons, occasion, and time itself from whence it was created, is erased from memory: it's so odious, that nothing can be suffered to support it but positive law. Whatever inconveniences, therefore, may follow from a decision, I cannot say this case is allowed or approved by the law of England; and therefore the black must be discharged."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mansfield concluded that there was no legal backing for slavery in England. Furthermore, the Somerset case is the origin of the following words about British common law -- words that have been memorized by British pupils ever since.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:"The air of England is too pure for a slave to breathe, and so everyone who breathes it becomes free. Everyone who comes to this island is entitled to the protection of English law, whatever oppression he may have suffered and whatever may be the colour of his skin."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This ruling applied only to England, and not the rest of the British Empire, and British commerce in slaves continued for thirty-five years until 1807, when Parliament formally abolished the slave trade. From Lord Mansfield's ruling in this case comes also the famous quote, "Let Justice be done, though the Heavens may fall."

Related Topics:
British Empire - 1807 - Parliament

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since the ruling did not apply to British colonies, slavery remained in the future United States. However, the decision was used by American abolitionists to justify Personal Liberty Laws, and was overturned in the United States by 1843 Supreme Court decision of Prigg v. Pennsylvania.

Related Topics:
Personal Liberty Laws - Prigg v. Pennsylvania

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

See Holiday's Life (1797); Campbell's Chief Justices; Foss's Judges; Greville's Memoirs; Horace Walpole's Letters; Wise's Though The Heavens May Fall; Horace Walpole's Letters; and other memoirs and works on the period.

Related Topics:
Campbell - Foss - Greville - Horace Walpole - Wise

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~