1838–1850: British diplomatic and naval strategies against the slave trade became increasingly aggressive, including the pursuit of treaties with African pow…

1838–1850: British diplomatic and naval strategies against the slave trade became increasingly aggressive, including the pursuit of treaties with African powers like the Sultan of Zanzibar. These treaties often secured “most-favored-nation” status for Britain and freedom of commerce alongside the suppression of human trafficking. In 1850, British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston authorized the navy to invade Brazilian waters and destroy the property of slave traders, an action that pushed the two nations toward the brink of war. This period demonstrated the extent to which Britain was willing to use military force and secret-service funds to bypass traditional international legal limits.