Dr Helen Paul (University of Southampton): ‘The South Sea Company and Enslavement’

The South Sea Company is famous for giving its name to an early financial crash, the South Sea Bubble of 1720. This event has overshadowed the company’s involvement in Britain’s transatlantic slave trade. In popular histories, the importance of the company’s trading arm has been downplayed in order to highlight the supposed foolishness of investors. In reality, the company managed to ship thousands of human beings across the Atlantic on the infamous Middle Passage. The talk will briefly outline the company’s history and the various ways in which that history has been traditionally told.

All are welcome, but those wishing to attend should book a free ticket on Eventbrite or email archives@churchofengland.org not later than Monday 13 February.

Please note that tickets must be booked individually and we need each attendee’s name for security purposes.

This event takes place in the Bancroft Room, Lambeth Palace Library (new building, entrance on Lambeth Palace Road). Please arrive 10 minutes before the advertised start time to allow time to take the lift to the top.