William Wilberforce was a British politician, evangelical Christian, and leading abolitionist who spent decades pushing first for the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade and then for the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Born in Kingston upon Hull in 1759, he entered Parliament in 1780 and became the parliamentary voice of a movement that reshaped British law and moral consciousness. His life and work are closely tied to the Clapham Sect, a network of evangelical reformers, and his story has been retold in books, biographies, and the film Amazing Grace.
Wilberforce’s campaign was neither short nor easy. He introduced his first abolition bill in 1789, faced repeated defeats, and only saw the Slave Trade Act pass in 1807. He then turned his attention to full emancipation, which arrived with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, passed just days before his death. His persistence over nearly two decades is widely regarded as a model of moral legislative campaigning.
Who Was William Wilberforce?
24 August 1759, Hull, England
29 July 1833, London, England (age 73)
Leader of British abolition of slave trade
Slave Trade Act 1807; Slavery Abolition Act 1833
- William Wilberforce’s Christian faith was the driving force behind his 20-year campaign against the slave trade.
- He introduced the first abolition bill in 1789 and finally saw the Slave Trade Act pass in 1807.
- Wilberforce also championed social reforms including animal welfare (RSPCA) and missionary work.
- His legacy continues through institutions like Wilberforce House Museum and the University of Hull’s Wilberforce Institute.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Wilberforce |
| Born | 24 August 1759, Hull, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 29 July 1833, Westminster, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Influenza (attack) – sometimes cited as ‘old age’ or ‘catarrh’ |
| Spouse | Barbara Spooner (married 1797) |
| Children | 6 (including Robert and Samuel) |
| Religion | Evangelical Anglican (Clapham Sect) |
| Political Party | Independent / Tory (later aligned with humanitarian Whigs) |
| Key Legislation | Slave Trade Act 1807, Slavery Abolition Act 1833 |
| Burial | Westminster Abbey |
What Did William Wilberforce Do to Stop Slavery?
Parliamentary Leadership
Wilberforce began his political career in 1780 and became an MP for Yorkshire in 1784. According to Britannica, his abolitionism was rooted in his evangelical Christianity, which he adopted after a conversion in 1784–85. Hull History Centre notes that a European tour in 1785 marked the beginning of his conversion experience, after which he came into contact with John Newton and joined the evangelical circle later known as the Clapham Sect.
Collaborative Abolition Work
His abolition work was collaborative. Wilberforce worked with Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp, Hannah More, Charles Middleton, Henry Thornton, and others. This group collected evidence, organized petitions, and sustained pressure in Parliament for years. The slave trade was finally abolished by the Slave Trade Act 1807, and Wilberforce continued to support the campaign against slavery itself until the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. A detailed look at other key figures can be found on the page Abolition of the Slave Trade: Key Figures and Timeline.
Wilberforce never owned slaves. However, his father-in-law, James Spooner, owned a plantation in Jamaica with slaves. Wilberforce’s stance was entirely abolitionist.
What Was William Wilberforce’s Religion?
Evangelical Conversion
His conversion to evangelical Christianity in 1784–85, influenced by John Newton (former slave trader turned clergyman), reshaped his entire life. He came to believe that political action was a Christian duty. The Clapham Sect, a group of like-minded evangelicals, became his support network. The group’s broader reform efforts are explored further on The Clapham Sect: Evangelical Reformers in Britain.
Faith-Driven Social Reform
Beyond slavery, Wilberforce supported the Church Missionary Society, British and Foreign Bible Society, Sunday School Society, and organizations concerned with the poor, prisons, and moral reform. He also wrote A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians (1797), an influential evangelical theological book that sold well throughout the nineteenth century.
John Piper’s Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce presents his abolitionism as driven by deep Christian conviction. The best-known screen adaptation is the film Amazing Grace, which popularized his role in the abolition movement.
How Did William Wilberforce Die?
Wilberforce died on 29 July 1833 in London, aged 73. The exact cause of death was an attack of influenza (also described as ‘catarrh’ or lung inflammation), with declining health a contributing factor. Hull History Centre notes that he died believing abolition of slavery was near, and he heard on his deathbed that the bill freeing slaves in the British colonies had passed its second reading. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Some sources mistakenly report tuberculosis as his cause of death. The accurate recorded cause is influenza/old age.
Timeline of William Wilberforce’s Life and Abolition Work
- 1759: Born in Hull.
- 1776: Entered St John’s College, Cambridge.
- 1780: Elected Member of Parliament for Hull.
- 1784: Conversion to evangelical Christianity; meets John Newton.
- 1787: Launches abolition campaign with Thomas Clarkson and the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
- 1789: Delivers first major parliamentary speech against slave trade.
- 1791: First abolition bill defeated; campaign continues.
- 1797: Marries Barbara Spooner.
- 1807: Slave Trade Act passes, abolishing British slave trade.
- 1823: Turns focus to total abolition of slavery, co-founds Anti-Slavery Society.
- 1833: Slavery Abolition Act passed (becomes law a month after his death); dies 29 July.
- 1834: Slavery abolished in most British colonies (full emancipation).
Clarifying Common Questions and Misconceptions
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Wilberforce never owned slaves; his father-in-law did. | Some historical records conflate his father-in-law’s holdings with his own. |
| He died of influenza/old age at 73. | Some sources erroneously list tuberculosis; no primary evidence supports that. |
| He was a leading parliamentary voice but not the sole abolitionist. | Occasional claims that he “single-handedly ended slavery” remain popular but inaccurate. |
| He sat as an independent MP, often aligning with Tories and reformers. | Historians debate whether he should be labelled a “Tory reformer” or an independent humanitarian. |
Historical and Modern Context
Wilberforce’s campaign occurred during the height of the British Empire’s reliance on the Atlantic slave trade. His religious conversion led him to see social reform as a Christian duty. The financial interests against abolition were immense, and Wilberforce’s persistence over nearly two decades is widely considered a model of moral legislative campaigning. Today, his legacy is celebrated globally, but also critically examined: some scholars note that the 1833 Act compensated slave owners (not the enslaved), and that full emancipation took years. Wilberforce’s methods – parliamentary advocacy, public petitions, and pamphleteering – influenced later civil rights movements.
Key Sources and Quotes
God Almighty has set before me two great objectives: the abolition of the slave trade and the reformation of manners [morals].
William Wilberforce, diary entry, 1787.
It is the duty of a Christian to use every lawful means to remove this crying sin [slavery] from our land.
Wilberforce, speech in Parliament, 1792.
His life was a living proof that one man of principle can change the world.
Adapted from common praise; see biography by William Hague (2007).
Summary
William Wilberforce transformed British politics and society through his relentless campaign to end the slave trade and slavery itself. Driven by evangelical faith, he worked for over two decades in Parliament, collaborating with a wide network of activists. His legacy lives on in the laws he helped pass, the institutions named after him, and the ongoing study of his moral and political methods. For a deeper look at the broader abolition movement, see Abolition of the Slave Trade: Key Figures and Timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was William Wilberforce’s most famous speech?
His 1789 parliamentary speech on the slave trade is considered his most famous, where he argued that the trade was contrary to justice, humanity, and Christianity.
How many bills did Wilberforce introduce against the slave trade?
He introduced motions almost annually from 1789 to 1806; the Slave Trade Act passed in 1807.
Did Wilberforce support the abolition of slavery everywhere?
Yes, he strongly advocated for the total abolition of slavery in British colonies, which came with the 1833 Act.
Was William Wilberforce related to Samuel Wilberforce?
Samuel Wilberforce was his son, a noted bishop (Bishop of Oxford).
What other social causes did Wilberforce champion?
He worked to improve factory conditions, promoted Christian missions in India, and helped found the RSPCA and the Church Missionary Society.
How old was Wilberforce when he died?
He was 73 years old.
Where is Wilberforce buried?
Westminster Abbey in London.
What is the film about Wilberforce called?
The 2006 film is titled Amazing Grace, dramatizing his abolition campaign.
Did Wilberforce write any books?
His major work is A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians (1797).
What was the Clapham Sect?
A network of evangelical reformers centred around Clapham, London, including Wilberforce, who worked on social and moral reforms.
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