Slavery in Britain His conversion to Evangelical Christianity in 1784 played a key role in interesting him in this social reform. William Wilberforce's Slave Trade Act 1807 abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. It was not until the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 that the institution finally was abolished, but on a gradual basis. Since land owners in the British West Indies were losing their unpaid labourers, they received compensation totaling £20 million. The Royal Navy established the West Africa Squadron (or Preventative Squadron) at substantial expense in 1808 after Parliament passed the Slave Trade Act of 1807. The squadron's task was
Alexander Fletcher (British politician) of the Exchequer Alistair Darling. Fletcher was Under-Secretary of State for Scotland from 1979 to 1983, and Minister for Corporate and Consumer Affairs 1983 to 1985. He died in Westminster but was returned to Edinburgh for burial. He and his wife are buried together in the 20th century (north) extension to Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh. Alexander Fletcher (British politician) Sir Alexander MacPherson Fletcher (26 August 1929 – 18 September 1989), sometimes known as Alex Fletcher, was a British Conservative Party politician. He was born in Greenock in western Scotland. He was married to Christine Anne Buchanan (1926-2008). Fletcher first stood