1642-1810: London emerged as a premier organizational hub for the slave trade, drawing its prominence from its status as a global commercial center.

1642-1810: London emerged as a premier organizational hub for the slave trade, drawing its prominence from its status as a global commercial center. As the largest city in Europe, it provided slave merchants with an unmatched range of specialized merchandise and financial services. Although its vessels often faced delays of several weeks navigating the English Channel, the city’s resources allowed for the distribution of captives across a vast range of New World territories. This global reach cemented London’s role as a primary international carrier during the eighteenth century.