 Denmark, which had been active in the slave trade, was the first country to ban the trade through legislation in 1792, which took effect in 1803.Britain banned the slave trade in 1807, imposing stiff fines for any slave found aboard a British ship ("see Slave Trade Act 1807").The Royal Navy moved to stop other nations from continuing the slave trade and declared that slaving was equal to piracy and was punishable by death.