What did William Wilberforce fight for?

What did William Wilberforce fight for?

William Wilberforce, (born August 24, 1759, Hull, Yorkshire, England—died July 29, 1833, London), British politician and philanthropist who from 1787 was prominent in the struggle to abolish the slave trade and then to abolish slavery itself in British overseas possessions. He studied at St.

Why did William Wilberforce choose to fight against slavery?

Wilberforce’s involvement in the abolition movement was motivated by a desire to put his Christian principles into action and to serve God in public life. He and other evangelicals were horrified by what they perceived was a depraved and un-Christian trade, and the greed and avarice of the owners and traders.

What were William Wilberforce’s accomplishments?

William Wilberforce’s greatest political achievement was his long fight to end Britain’s involvement in the Transatlantic slave trade. Wilberforce achieved the suppression of the slave trade, with the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Bill, in 1807.

What were William Wilberforce beliefs?

Wilberforce was a leading member of the Clapham Sect, a group of evangelical Anglican Christians with a strong bias towards social improvements, who worked for the abolition of the slave trade and promoted missionary work.

What was the relationship between Wilberforce and the Bible?

To Wilberforce, these primary biblically-based doctrines were mutually dependent and harmonious.

Why was the slave trade a sin for Wilberforce?

For Wilberforce the slave trade was a sin for which Britain had to repent or be damned. It took twenty years to end the British trade in enslaved people and almost thirty more before slavery itself became illegal. In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions

Where did Wilberforce go to school as a child?

With his mother struggling to cope, the nine-year-old Wilberforce was sent to a prosperous uncle and aunt with houses in both St James’ Place, London, and Wimbledon, at that time a village 7 miles (11 km) south-west of London. He attended an “indifferent” boarding school in Putney for two years.

How many children did William and Barbara Wilberforce have?

They had six children in fewer than ten years: William (b. 1798), Barbara (b. 1799), Elizabeth (b. 1801), Robert Isaac Wilberforce (b. 1802), Samuel Wilberforce (b. 1805) and Henry William Wilberforce (b. 1807).