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If we’re gonna talk about the UK’s history with slavery, how about we talk about the MPs whose money + power comes from slavery?
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Richard Drax MP (2010-now)
Lives in 7,000-acre estate, Charborough House, Dorset.
Where’s that money from?
Great-(x6)grandfather Henry Drax, who made his family’s fortune from slave plantations in Barbados.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2146646283 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21591814
Lives in 7,000-acre estate, Charborough House, Dorset.
Where’s that money from?
Great-(x6)grandfather Henry Drax, who made his family’s fortune from slave plantations in Barbados.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2146646283 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21591814
Richard Drax MP (cont.)
His great-(x4)grandfather John Sawbridge Erle-Drax was given £4,293 (£3m today) as *compensation* by the UK government in 1833 for the 189 enslaved people he owned.
6 of the Drax family have served as Tory MPs over the years. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21591814
His great-(x4)grandfather John Sawbridge Erle-Drax was given £4,293 (£3m today) as *compensation* by the UK government in 1833 for the 189 enslaved people he owned.
6 of the Drax family have served as Tory MPs over the years. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21591814
Douglas Hogg MP (1979 - 2010).
Conservative Cabinet minister.
His great-uncle was Charles McGarel, who owned *2,489* enslaved people in Guyana.
2,489 people.
McGarel received £129,000 (£101m) as ‘compensation’ in 1837.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britains-colonial-shame-slave-owners-given-huge-payouts-after-abolition-8508358.html
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2014903896
Conservative Cabinet minister.
His great-uncle was Charles McGarel, who owned *2,489* enslaved people in Guyana.
2,489 people.
McGarel received £129,000 (£101m) as ‘compensation’ in 1837.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britains-colonial-shame-slave-owners-given-huge-payouts-after-abolition-8508358.html
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2014903896
Quintin McGarel Hogg MP (1938 - 1987).
Father of Douglas Hogg MP.
He was a Conservative Lord Chancellor - serving under Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher, 1970-1974 and 1979-1987.
His father, Douglas McGarel Hogg, was *also* Lord Chancellor.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2014903896
Father of Douglas Hogg MP.
He was a Conservative Lord Chancellor - serving under Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher, 1970-1974 and 1979-1987.
His father, Douglas McGarel Hogg, was *also* Lord Chancellor.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2014903896
David Cameron MP (2001-2016)
*former-prime minister*
Cameron’s ancestor was General Sir James Duff, Banffshire MP in late 17th century.
He owned 202 enslaved people in Jamaica. He was given £4,101 (£3m) as compensation in 1833.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/19162 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/29/how-do-we-know-david-cameron-has-slave-owning-ancestor
*former-prime minister*
Cameron’s ancestor was General Sir James Duff, Banffshire MP in late 17th century.
He owned 202 enslaved people in Jamaica. He was given £4,101 (£3m) as compensation in 1833.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/19162 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/29/how-do-we-know-david-cameron-has-slave-owning-ancestor
Samantha Cameron (not an MP, but..)
She is descended from 19th century businessman, William Jolliffe, who owned 164 enslaved people on a St Lucia estate, and received £4,000 (£3m) in compensation.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/1267616206
She is descended from 19th century businessman, William Jolliffe, who owned 164 enslaved people on a St Lucia estate, and received £4,000 (£3m) in compensation.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/1267616206
Those are just some of the more recent ones.
William Gladstone - another ex-prime minister.
His father, Sir John Gladstone, owned *2,508* enslaved people.
He received £106,769 (£83m) as compensation.
Two of his other sons were also Tory MPs.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/896
William Gladstone - another ex-prime minister.
His father, Sir John Gladstone, owned *2,508* enslaved people.
He received £106,769 (£83m) as compensation.
Two of his other sons were also Tory MPs.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/896
Many other MPs, so many I lost count, owned slaves or financially benefited from them.
E.g Phillip John Miles, Tory MP who owned 2000 slaves. His son was also a Tory MP.
Or Alexander Baring, who owned 3,400 slaves in Guyana + St. Kitts. At least five Barings have been Tory MPs.
E.g Phillip John Miles, Tory MP who owned 2000 slaves. His son was also a Tory MP.
Or Alexander Baring, who owned 3,400 slaves in Guyana + St. Kitts. At least five Barings have been Tory MPs.
All this research is from the UCL ‘Legacies of British Slave-ownership’ database.
This archives the Slave Compensation Commission, set up to manage the £20 million given in ‘compensation’ to UK slavers for the loss of their ‘property’.
Look for yourself: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs
This archives the Slave Compensation Commission, set up to manage the £20 million given in ‘compensation’ to UK slavers for the loss of their ‘property’.
Look for yourself: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs
Bonus:
Mary Wakefield (married to Dominic Cummings) is descended from the Baring family.
Alexander Baring made his family’s fortune from 3,400 enslaved people in Guyana & St. Kitts.
He received £9,900 (~£6m) in compensation.
(h/t @AdrianGregory20)
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/-1411131717
Mary Wakefield (married to Dominic Cummings) is descended from the Baring family.
Alexander Baring made his family’s fortune from 3,400 enslaved people in Guyana & St. Kitts.
He received £9,900 (~£6m) in compensation.
(h/t @AdrianGregory20)
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/-1411131717
Robert Lindsay MP (1955-74) & House of Lords (voting on laws) until 2019.
Also a Tory Minister.
Descended from James Lindsay, who owned 640 enslaved people in Jamaica + ‘shares’ in 255 more. He was given £12,280 (~£9m) by UK government.
h/t @ORHamilton
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/21571
Also a Tory Minister.
Descended from James Lindsay, who owned 640 enslaved people in Jamaica + ‘shares’ in 255 more. He was given £12,280 (~£9m) by UK government.
h/t @ORHamilton
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/21571
