George IV of England wanted to abolish slavery; parliament was against him. Undaunted, George set the royal navy to intercept slaver ships off Africa's coast and free the 'cargo'. Knowing most of the emancipated could not safely return to their old tribes (they risked reenslavement!) George set up a settlement for them in Sierra Leone. With no government funds to help the project, George IV ran up huge debts supporting them. People who denounce 'George IV's debts should remember this.