The physical business of the slave trade was far removed from the lives of most Britons. It existed on the West African coast, in the Atlantic shipping lanes and in the slave colonies of the Americas. Yet from the monarchy downwards, virtually everyone in Britain played a part in the business of slavery.
Financial, commercial, legal and insurance institutions emerged to support the lucrative activities of the slavers. Slave trade captains became bankers, plantation owners stood for parliament, stately homes were built on the proceeds and many of the momentous changes of the Industrial Revolution were financed on the back of the trade.