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Algeria: Bombardment of Algiers by the Anglo-Dutch fleet, (August 26-27, 1816). Oil on canvas painting by Martinus Schouman (1770 - 1848), 1823

Algeria: Bombardment of Algiers by the Anglo-Dutch fleet, (August 26-27, 1816). Oil on canvas painting by Martinus Schouman (1770 - 1848), 1823. The Bombardment of Algiers was an attempt by Britain to end the slavery practices of the Dey of Algiers. An Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Exmouth bombarded ships and the harbour defences of Algiers.

Although there was a continuing campaign by various European and the American navies to suppress the piracy against Europeans by the North African Barbary states, the specific aim of this expedition was to free Christian slaves and to stop the practice of enslaving Europeans. To this end, it was partially successful as the Dey of Algiers freed around 3,000 slaves following the bombardment and signed a treaty against the slavery of Europeans. However, the cessation of slavery did not last long.