Slavery is a reality and an abomination.
William Wilberforce. Ever hear of him? Born August 24, 1759. Died July 29, 1833. He was one of Britain’s greatest social reformers who dedicated his life’s work to ending slavery. He was also involved in promoting education, Christianity, morality, and animal welfare. It’s my opinion that the reason you probably don’t know him is his focus on Christianity. He should be remembered, statues should have been erected, simply because of his determination and tenacity to abolish the slave trade.
At a young age, he moved to London to live with relatives and absorbed their puritan ideals. At the age of 18, he attended St John’s College, Cambridge University. Not a great student he met and became friends with William Pitt the future Prime Minister. At age 21 he was able to win a seat in parliament as an “independent” although he would lean to the reform side of the Tory party. It was at this time that his religious beliefs reacquainted themselves with him.
In 1786 Wilberforce was invited to lead the abolitionist movement in Parliament. In 1789 he spoke in the House of Commons arguing that slavery was a matter of great injustice and contrary to principles of human dignity. His Bill he introduced failed in Parliament by a vote of 163 to 88. Following the war with France in 1793, the mood swung against the abolition of slavery.
Following the death of his friend William Pitt in 1806 the climate changed. In 1807, both the Lords and Commons finally passed the Slave Trade Act by a vote of 283 to 16. The act made illegal the trade of slaves. Three days before his death, on July 26, 1833, he learned that the Slavery Abolition Act had passed outlawing slavery in most parts of the British Empire.
You may not know him, but now you know his accomplishments. I truly believe it was his Christian emphasis that has shadowed his deeds.