Synopses & Reviews
William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a politician, philanthropist and evangelical Christian, now best known for his work to end the slave trade. Elected to Parliament in 1780, he campaigned unsuccessfully for penal and electoral reform. In 1787, at the encouragement of his friend William Pitt, he took up the cause of abolition at Westminster and lobbied influential people tirelessly, but humanitarian and ethical arguments were slow to overcome the economic interests of those who had made fortunes from the slave trade or the use of slave labour. It was not until 1807 that the Abolition Bill was finally passed. Wilberforce continued his work for emancipation (not achieved until 1833, just days before his death), and also campaigned for religious liberty until ill-health led to his withdrawal from public life. This biography, based on his own writings, was published by two of his sons in 1838, but sheds more light on religious than on political aspects of his life.
Synopsis
This five-volume biography of abolitionist William Wilberforce, drawn from his own writings, was published in 1838 by his sons.
Table of Contents
Volume 1: Preface; 1. Birth; 2. 1780-1783. Hull election; 3. 1783-4. First election for Yorkshire; 4. April 1784 to April 1786. Takes his seat for Yorkshire; 5. April 1786 to September 1787. Registry and Surgical-Subject Bills; 6. September 1787 to December 1788. Retirement at Bath; 7. December 1788 to July 1790. Serious resolutions; 8. July 1790 to December 1791. Summer excursions; 9. December 1791 to December 1792. Return to London; Appendix. Volume 2: 10. December 1792 to July 1794. Alarming aspect of the times; 11. July 1794 to October 1795. Wilberforce preparing his religious work; 12. October 1795 to July 1796. Disordered state of the public mind; 13. July 1796 to October 1797. Buxton; 14. November 1797 to June 1798. New session; 15. June 1798 to September 1799. Settlement at Broomfield; 16. September 1799 to December 1800. Bath; Appendix. Volume 3: 17. January 1801 to December 1802. Change of ministers; 18. January 1803 to May 1804. New-year's day; 19. May 1804 to February 1806. Encouraging prospects of abolition cause; 20. February 1806 to March 1807. Wilberforce's conduct towards new ministry; 21. March 1807 to June 1807. Change of ministers; 22. June 1807 to December 1808. His feelings on reviewing his success; 23. December 1808 to July 1810. New house; 24. July 1810 to July 1811. Garden at Kensington Gore; 25. July 1811 to January 1812. Correspondence with Mr. Roberts. Volume 4: 26. January 1812 to July 1812. New-year's day; 27. July 1812 to February 1813. Summer at Sandgate; 28. February 1813 to December 1813. Session opens; 29. December 1813 to December 1814. Successes of the Allies; 30. January 1815 to January 1816. Christmas at Barham Court; 31. January 1816 to July 1817. West Indian opposition to Registry Bill; 32. July 1817 to October 1818. Recess. Volume 5: 33. October 1818 to January 1820. Hayti; 34. January 1820 to January 1822. Death of the king; 35. January 1822 to July 1823. Winter at Marden Park; 36. July 1823 to February 1825. Summer excursion; 37. March 1825 to October 1827. Retires from London; 38. October 1827 to April 1832. Settlement at Highwood; 39. April 1832 to August 1833. Retirement into Kent and the Isle of Wight; Index.