10. Belle’s Guardian and Great Uncle was Lord Mansfield, Who Despised Slavery
Belle was only around four years old when her father, Sir John Lindsay, brought her from Florida to London. Lindsay was related to the 1st Earl of Mansfield, William Murray. Murray was Lindsay’s uncle and the highest-ranking judge in England. While Murray and his wife knew what taking in a girl of African origin could do their reputation, they took Belle in any way. Some people believe Lord Mansfield took Belle in to help protect her from the horrors of American slavery.
Many people also believe Lord Mansfield agreed to care for Belle because he despised the institution of slavery. Lord Mansfield often made rulings which sided with the abolitionists. For instance, in 1772, he ruled that slave masters had no jurisdiction over escaped slaves in England. Furthermore, the escaped slaves could not be removed from England’s soil unless they wanted to go. Today, this decision is considered a critical moment in the abolitionists battle to end the slave trade. People also believe that Lord Mansfield made these decisions because of Belle. Some think he was trying to make the world a better place for his great niece.