"Somersett v. Stewart" was a landmark legal case in 1772 in England that addressed the status of slavery. The case involved James Somersett, an enslaved African man who escaped from his owner, Charles Stewart, while in London. Stewart sought to have Somersett returned to him, but the case raised questions about the legality of slavery in England. The ruling by Lord Mansfield determined that slavery was not supported by English law. This decision effectively meant that Somersett could not be forcibly returned to slavery, setting a significant precedent that contributed to the decline of slavery in England.