Today in History

November 29, 1781

The Zong Massacre

On November 29, 1781, the crew of a British slave ship, The Zong, murdered 133 African slaves bound for Jamaica by dumping them overboard into the sea to claim insurance. The ship's first mate stood his ground and objected to the action and later testified against the crew at trial.

Public reaction to the Zong affair was so strong as to hasten the United Kingdom's eventual prohibition of the slave trade.


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