After seeing the movie “Amazing Grace” which focuses on the life of William Wilberforce, I became intrigued with the man, wondering if he would live up to his legend. After some research, I have to say that, indeed, he does.
A well-known abolitionist, Wilberforce did not begin that way. In fact, he originally knew very little about the slave trade. Although he came from a wealthy family that lived in a North Sea port, his area saw very little in the way of slave trading. It was not until his friend, William Pitt, encouraged his involvement in abolition that Wilberforce became well informed on the subject, which would ultimately become the guiding force in his life.
At age twenty-one, Wilberforce was of the youngest age allowed for any member of parliament. Although his early years were relatively quiet, this was par for course for the younger members of parliament. However, over the years, his reputation grew within the group because of his eloquence, as well as his wit and endearing charm. These qualities would prove useful to him in later years.
In 1785, William Wilberforce converted to Christianity, a belief he had explored as a young child but then abandoned for reasons unknown. This time, however, he even considered devoting himself to his religion full time. Although history is unclear what prevented his entry into the ministry, it is thought that his growing abolitionist beliefs played some part. In the movie “Amazing Grace” it is implied that his friends suggested to whom that he could serve God through his service of mankind. Perhaps this appealed to the idealistic young man who felt everyone should be treated equally as children of God.
In 1787, Wilberforce became the parliamentary leader of the abolition movement. He worked closely with Thomas Clarkson who had been collecting data against the slave trade for many years. Clarkson provided him with much of the information he needed to bring evidence against the trade to the Privy Council in 1788. However, his pleas for justice on behalf of the slaves fell on deaf ears since most of the members of the council – – as well as those of parliament as a whole – – were inextricably linked to the trade in some way.
Several times it appeared as though the Abolitionist Bill might actually pass but last minute bargains, and back stabbing ultimately sabotaged its approval time after time. In the winter of 1789, a local newspaper reported that Wilberforce’s latest bill provision was delivered with such eloquence that “the gallery of the House of Commons . . . hung their heads in sorrow – for the African occupation of bolts and chains is no more.”
They were, unfortunately, premature in their proclamation of the death of slavery. Delay tactics and further evidence requested and heard over the next several months and then a final adjournment of the parliamentary session ensured that the bill would not pass.
During the following session in 1790 the bill was kicked upstairs to a special committee in order to prevent it from taking up more valuable time in the House of Commons. Again, delay tactics won out and nothing was decided for almost two years.
In April of 1791, Wilberforce once again addressed the House of Commons but when it was time for a vote to take place, less than half of the members remained. The Abolition Bill fell yet again with a majority against the abolishment of slavery.
Starting once again from square one, many believed that the continual struggle took a toll on Wilberforce’s health. Always sickly, he began to complain of uncontrollable seizures of stomach pain. Diagnosed as “colitis”, the doctors were at a loss with regarding to treatment and basically only provided laudanum for pain. Determined not to become addicted to the opiate, which might deter him from his course, it is believed that Wilberforce endured a great deal of pain rather than submit to the drug.
Taking new tactics to get their abolitionist movement jumpstarted yet again, the Abolition Committee collected more petitions, held more meetings, published extra pamphlets, and arranged for a boycott of sugar (a chief product produced by slave labor). Almost one year to the day from his previous defeat, Wilberforce once again presented the Abolition Bill to the House of Commons. The mood was only partially receptive until Henry Dundas suggested an amendment that would add the word “gradual” to the bill. It then passed, as amended, by 230 votes to 835.
Although gradual abolition became law, the final date for slave trading remained fixed at 1796. This gave the opposition to the bill too much room to maneuver and the date for ending slavery seemed unreachable. The outbreak of the war with France further weakened any progress made by the abolitionists who were suddenly being labeled as something else altogether – seditionists. Many gave up and went into hiding. Wilberforce did not.
Biding his time and waiting for the tide to once again turn, Wilberforce turned his short-term efforts to evangelical and philanthropic projects. He was instrumental in setting up several organizations including The Bible Society and The Society for the Bettering of the Condition of the Poor. He also worked on behalf of the preservation of animals and wrote a book entitled “A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians.”
Finally, in 1804, it appeared that the time was once again ripe to address the issue of abolition. The Abolition Society reformed and once again set out to accomplish their goal. Wilberforce introduced the Abolition Bill in both 1804 and 1805 where it failed each time with an ever- lessening defeat. However, in 1806, after publishing an influential tract advocating abolition, which resulted in resolutions in support of abolition, the cause seemed yet again revived.
The new Whig government, who was heavily in favor of the Abolition Bill, helped motivate others to join in the cause. The bill was introduced again in January of 1807 with building support and finally passed on February 23, 1807 with overwhelming support; almost 15 years after Dunda’s amendment seemed to wreck any chances of the original bill being passed.
During the final debate of the bill, then Solicitor General, Sir Samuel Romilly, spoke not only against the slave trade, but also on behalf of the tireless efforts of William Wilberforce. He contrasted the peaceful happiness of Wilberforce, knowing that slave trade was no more, to the torturous sleepless guilt of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Abolition Act became law in England proper on March 25, 1807. Unfortunately, slave trade remained a reality in British colonies for some time to come. In 1812, Wilberforce started work on the Slave Registration Bill, which he felt was necessary in order to make sure that the Abolition Act was enforced. As with his original bill, this one also met with constant opposition.
In 1823, Wilberforce published another pamphlet attacking slavery in British colonies. But leadership of that parliamentary cmapaign was passed from him to Thomas Fowell Buxton and in 1825; Wilberforce resigned from the House of Commons.
In 1830 the Emancipation Bill was finally signed into law, ensuring the abolishment of slavery even in British colonies. “Thank God,” Wilberforce is credited with stating “that I lived to witness a day in which England is willing to given twenty millions sterling for the Abolition of Slavery.” Three days later, the man most dedicated to the abolition of slavery died. He is buried in Westminster Abbey next to his friend, William Pitt.
