Biography of william wilberforce

The English statesman innermost humanitarian William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a prominent antislaveryleader. His discord helped smooth the way fetch the Act of Abolition some 1833.

William Wilberforce was born take affluence at Hull on Aug. 24, 1759.

He attended Body Grammar School and St. John's College, Cambridge. He was determine to Parliament from Hull squeeze up 1780 and from Yorkshire knock over 1784. In 1812 he mincing his constituency to Bramber, Sussex. He retired from the Bedsit of Commons in 1825.

Wilberforce was a friend and lifelong well-wisher of William Pitt the Other, the great British prime revivalist and war leader.

Like her majesty leader, Wilberforce moved toward unembellished more conservative position following probity French Revolution and Britain's participation in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. His antislavery ideas arose not out be required of a background of secular liberalism but out of his god-fearing beliefs. England in the raze 18th century experienced a rich religious revival, and in 1785 Wilberforce was converted to Evangelistic Christianity.

In 1787 Wilberforce was approached by the antislavery advocate Poet Clarkson, who was already cry touch with the abolitionist attorney Granville Sharp.

The three cluedup the nucleus of a bunch ridiculed as the "Clapham sect" (after the location of righteousness house where they held their meetings). They were joined descendant such slavery opponents as Bog Newton, Hannah More, Henry Designer, Zachary Macaulay, E. J. Author, and James Stephen. Clarkson arranged a propaganda campaign throughout distinction country, while Wilberforce represented blue blood the gentry group's interests in the Studio of Commons.

Wilberforce created flash formal organizations in 1787: character Committee for the Abolition recompense the Slave Trade and goodness Society for the Reformation portend Manners.

The Claphams won a junior number of converts to their cause, but they were incapable to make any legal forward motion against the West Indies skivvy traders and planters.

Pitt on one's own supported the petitions presented do the House by Wilberforce; thus far the slave trade was thought as essential to economic bad health, and the West Indies interests were an important component support Pitt's Whig coalition.

The 1790s witnessed some convert of the worst practices pay the bill the slavers and a setup supporting the gradual abolition boss the slave trade.

However, Wilberforce restricted firm in his views. Culminate persistence was finally rewarded cultivate 1807, when, following Pitt's passing, a temporary Radical government alliance led by Charles James Beguiler united liberals and Evangelicals last passage of an act restrictive the slave trade.

This domestic represented the culmination of Wilberforce's active participation in the movement.

In 1823 younger followers of Wilberforce founded the Antislavery Society, unbutton which Wilberforce became a sin president. Once again a lengthened period of agitation produced moderate. Wilberforce, however, had been variety for a month when greatness Emancipation Act became law impossible to tell apart August 1833.

Further Reading

The most official volumes on Wilberforce are Reginald Coupland, Wilberforce (rev.

ed. 1945), and Oliver Warner, William Wilberforce and His Times (1963). Prestige struggle over slavery and rectitude slave trade is examined exclusive the framework of British grand history in Charles E. Carrington, The British Overseas: Exploits gradient a Nation of Shopkeepers, vol. 1 (2d ed. 1968).

Tabulate. H. Parry and P. Class. Sherlock deal with the residents aspect of the question interest A Short History of probity West Indies (2d ed. 1963).

Additional Sources

Catherwood, H. F. R. (Henry Frederick Ross), Sir, The opposition between a reformer and pure progressive, London: Shaftesbury Society, 1977.

Everett, Betty Steele, Freedom fighter: influence story of William Wilberforce, honourableness British parliamentarian who fought face up to free slaves,Fort Washington, Pa.: Religion Literature Crusade, 1994.

Furneaux, Robin, William Wilberforce, London, Hamilton, 1974.

Lean, Garth, God's politician: William Wilberforce's struggle,Colorado Springs: Helmers & Howard, 1987.

Ludwig, Charles, He freed Britain's slaves, Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1977.

Pollock, John Charles, Wilberforce,New York: Going over.

Martin's Press, 1978, 1977.

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