William Wilberforce the Man: Abolition, religion and legacy
The Slavery Campaign
William Wilberforce is best known for his involvement in the campaign against slavery.
He first became interested in abolition in the 1780s. However, he had concerns about raising the issue in Parliament, since other MPs had money invested in the slave trade. His plan was to first concentrate on the abolition of the slave trade. And then the complete abolition of slavery.
Wilberforce made his first abolition speech in 1789, with little success. But the defeat did not deter him. Wilberforce continued to present the abolition bill to Parliament for many years. Until, in 1807, the bill was finally passed. Parliament gave a round of applause to Wilberforce who had tears running down his face.
The next step was the Slave Registration Bill in 1819. This enforced slave owners to register all slaves. Wilberforce was less active in the abolition of slavery itself, due to ill health. As Wilberforce lay dying he knew the Abolition of Slavery bill was due to pass. But it was up to his fellow MPs and abolitionists worldwide to keep up the fight against slavery. A fight that continues today.
Critics of Wilberforce
The work of Wilberforce and the Abolitionists had a big impact on world history. But Wilberforce still had his critics. They argued that Wilberforce cared more for enslaved Africans than the working class in Britain. Despite supporting enlightened ideas, Wilberforce supported some measures that restricted people's rights. These included the Combination Acts, that made Trade Unions illegal.
People accused Wilberforce of being inconsistent in his support of campaigns. This was likely because Wilberforce was often split between his personal beliefs and loyalty to his friends and family. For example, Wilberforce had to choose between opposing slavery and his daughter's happiness. In 1827 Wilberforce's youngest daughter, Elizabeth wanted to marry Charles Pinney. However, the Pinney family were merchants whose wealth came from slavery. After many letters between the Pinney family and Wilberforce, Elizabeth was sent to Bath and she later married Reverend J. James.
William Wilberforce c.1800
The religious man
Religion was very important to Wilberforce. After he became a non-conformist Christian, he toiled with the problem of how to be a committed Christian and a politician. He would often debate the issue with friends. And is known to have read books such as The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul by Philip Doddridge.
In 1797, Wilberforce wrote A Practical View of Christianity. This aired his belief that people should use Christianity to create a better society. The book was a bestseller within six months.
The family man
Wilberforce was also a dedicated family man and father of six children. He was devoted to his wife Barbara Spooner who he married in May 1797. Their home was always filled with visitors and friends who came for advice or good conversation. Despite this, Barbara was known as a poor hostess who provided little food for their guests. Likewise, their many servants were often too sick or too old to serve the family. It's said that Isaac Milner would yell for bread and butter at the dinner table.
Wilberforce's son Samuel became Bishop of Oxford. He argued against Charles Darwin's theory of evolution with Thomas Huxley. It was a lively debate with one woman fainting, people yelling and Huxley confessing that he would rather have an ape than a Bishop for an ancestor!
Death and legacy
On the 29th of July 1833, William Wilberforce died. His death was marked with a state funeral held in Westminster Abbey on 3rd August 1833. He is buried next to his friend William Pitt.
Here in Hull, Wilberforce's hometown, a subscription was raised to build a Wilberforce Monument. They laid the foundation stone on the 1st of August 1834, while flags flew and bells rang in celebration. The statue of Wilberforce was added later in 1835.
All over the world, people remember Wilberforce and his legacy. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, a village is named after Wilberforce. And in Ohio stands America's oldest private university, Wilberforce University. Founded in 1856, the university caters especially for African-American students.