1772-Jun.-22: The landmark Somerset v Stewart case concluded in England, where Lord Mansfield ruled that an enslaved person could not be forcibly removed fro…

1772-Jun.-22: The landmark Somerset v Stewart case concluded in England, where Lord Mansfield ruled that an enslaved person could not be forcibly removed from English soil and sold abroad. Julius S. Scott details how news of this ruling crossed the Atlantic and entered the “underground” networks of the Caribbean, where it was widely misinterpreted by enslaved populations as a general decree of emancipation. This “common wind” of misinformation significantly heightened expectations of freedom and fueled unrest across British colonies. The case became a vital reference point for future abolitionist efforts led by figures like Granville Sharp.