Celebration of William Wilberforce
The abolition of slavery in the British Empire is largely heralded as the success of William Wilberforce. The cessation of slavery in Britain and its colonies was achieved in two stages; through the 1807 Slave Trade Act and the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act, explored below.
Wilberforce was born in Hull in 1759, spending his early childhood there before moving to London at nine. Raised in an evangelical Christian family, he adopted a pro-humanitarian outlook from a young age. He studied politics at Cambridge and promptly became a member of Parliament. From this position, Wilberforce learnt the extent of the woes of the British slave trade and began leading the Society for the Abolition of Slavery. His societal movement took almost twenty years to gain traction and majority support in Parliament, resulting in his first success in 1807. Wilberforce retired in 1825, though he lived to see the Slavery Abolition Act passed in Parliament three days before his death.
His first act to be passed in Parliament was the 1807 Slave Trade Act. This act prohibited the trade of slaves within the British Empire, dismantling one of the most profitable businesses at the time. This manifested in high fines for any captains that were found to be carrying enslaved people. Further success was found in encouraging other empires to abolish their own slave trades.This act, however, did not extend to the ending practice itself.
His second act passed in Parliament was the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, illegalising the purchase or ownership of slaves in the British Empire. Several territories were exempt until 1843, soon following suit. The abolition saw slaves become apprentices and then finally fully emancipated in two separate stages. Though Wilberforce did not live to see the slaves emancipated, he lived long enough to know that his plight had succeeded in Parliament.
Wilberforce’s legacy prevails in many ways. Most notably, the anti-slavery status of Britain remained unwavering after the implementation of the Abolition Act. Britain’s slavery-free status stood as a benchmark for other countries and empires to follow suit, aided by earnest encouragement from diplomats worldwide. Further success is embodied by the many anti-slavery companies today, one of which is a direct descendant of his Society for the Abolition of Slavery (Anti-Slavery International). A humanitarian to heart, Wilberforce cared for the welfare of people both outside and within Great Britain. Further accomplishments of his include improving welfare for the poor of Great Britain, limiting children’s working hours and he was even a founding member of the RSPCA.
On his birthday, the 24th of August, we remember Wilberforce’s unwavering dedication. Only after decades of adversity did he find success, uprooting a long-lived practice and changing the social norm permanently. We follow his example and continue to petition and campaign for changes in laws, norms and practices to ensure we can be slavery free. Check out our current campaign and do what you can to honour Wilberforce today.