1793 – Denmark Abolishes Slave Trade

On June 10, 1793, Denmark officially enacted legislation abolishing its participation in the transatlantic slave trade, becoming the first European country to do so. The law, which took effect in 1803, marked a significant shift in international pressure against the brutal commerce of African lives. Though slavery itself continued in Danish colonies for several more decades, the decision was influenced by rising humanitarian and economic concerns. Denmark’s move predated Britain’s similar ban by more than a decade and set a precedent that abolitionists across Europe cited in their advocacy. However, while progressive on the surface, Denmark’s action was also shaped by diminishing profitability and fears of rebellion in colonies such as the Danish West Indies. Nonetheless, June 10 stands as a symbolic milestone in the international movement to end the slave trade and reflects growing Enlightenment-era calls for human rights and dignity across the Atlantic world.