A Timeline Of Black History In Britain

AD 43 - The Roman conquest of Britain begins with soldiers drawn from all over North Africa and Europe.

668 - African-born Abbot Hadrian becomes abbot of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury.

1241 - The earliest known drawing of a black Briton is made in the Domesday Book.

1507 - A black trumpeter is recorded at Henry VII's court.

1508 - A poem written by William Dunbar called Ane Black-Moir, tells us there were black people in Britain at that time.

1555 - A group of African people are brought to Britain to learn English so they can act as interpreters for English traders.

1672 - The Royal African Company is created in England to manage the slave trade.

1700s The population of black and Asian slaves, servants and seamen increases.

1760s - 20,000 black people live in Britain, including up to 15,000 in London. Black people are often shown and written about as less than human.

1765 - The campaign for the freedom of slaves begins in Britain.

1772 - A decline in slavery begins in England.

1775-1783 - African American slave soldiers who fought for Britain in the American Revolutionary War arrive in London but have no money and are forced to beg on the streets.

1792-1815 - Black soldiers and seamen settle in London after fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.

1833 - The Slavery Abolition Act becomes law in Britain.

1834 - There is a decline in the black population due to restrictions on immigration from Africa.

1880s - New black communities are formed in Liverpool and Cardiff.

20th Century - Britain sees an increase in African students, professionals, businesspeople and athletes.

1913 - John Archer becomes the first black mayor of London.

1914-1918 - The First World War brings an influx of people from different countries around the world.

1939-1945 - People from the Caribbean and West Africa arrive as wartime workers and servicemen in the army, navy and air force.

1950s-1960s - There is a huge migration of people from all over the Caribbean to work in hospitals and on transport and railway networks. They often struggle with racial prejudice.

1968 - Many Asian people are expelled from Kenya and settle in Britain.

1976 - The Race Relations Act is passed and the Commission for Racial Equality is established. British Asian people from Malawi settle in Britain.

1980s - Somali refugees arrive in Britain.

1987 - The first black members of parliament are elected.

1993 - The Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act is passed.

2001 - The Race Relations Amendment Act states all public services must actively promote racial equality.

2006 - The Racial and Religious Hatred Act makes it illegal to stir up hatred against someone because of their race or religion.

2011 - 1,904,684 people (3% of the population) record they were 'Black, African, Caribbean or Black British' in the UK census.