Wilberforce, William

Wilberforce, William
(1759–1833)
   Philanthropist.
   Wilberforce was born in Hull, England, and he was educated at the University of Cambridge. In 1780 he was elected a Member of Parliament. Soon afterwards he was converted to a strict evangelical style of living and he became associated with the Clapham Sect – a group which tried to promote evangelical ideals in public life. He is mainly remembered for his determined efforts to abolish the slave trade. A close friend of both the Prime Minister, William Pitt, and the hymn-writer John newton, he used his considerable oratorical powers to gain his end. The Abolition Bill finally became law in 1807 and the final Emancipation Act, freeing all slaves in the British Empire, was achieved just before his death. Among other activities, he helped found the Church Missionary Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society; he contributed to the charities of Hannah more and he was the author of the much read Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians. Of his sons, Samuel wilberforce became an Anglican Bishop, Robert was prominent in the Oxford Movement, but eventually became a Roman Catholic, and Henry also converted to Catholicism and for several years was editor of the Catholic Standard.
   R.T. Anstey, The Atlantic Slave Trade and British Abolition (1975);
   R. Coupland, Wilberforce, 2nd edn (1945);
   R. Furneaux, William Wilberforce (1974).

Who’s Who in Christianity . 2014.

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  • Wilberforce, William — born Aug. 24, 1759, Hull, Yorkshire, Eng. died July 29, 1833, London British politician. Entering the House of Commons in 1780, he supported parliamentary reform and Catholic emancipation. Converted to evangelical Christianity (1785), he agitated …   Universalium

  • Wilberforce, William — (1759 1833)    pioneering voice in the abolition of slavery in the West    William Wilberforce was born into a relatively wealthy family in Hull, Yorkshire, England, in 1759. At the age of 17, he entered St. John s College at Cambridge University …   Encyclopedia of Protestantism

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  • Wilberforce,William — Wil·ber·force (wĭlʹbər fôrs , fōrs ), William. 1759 1833. British politician. As a member of Parliament (1780 1825) he campaigned for the British abolition of slavery. * * * …   Universalium

  • WILBERFORCE, WILLIAM —    eminent philanthropist, born at Hull, son of a wealthy merchant; attended St. John s College, Cambridge, at 17; represented his native town in Parliament as soon as he was of age; he was early and deeply impressed with the inhumanity of the… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • WILBERFORCE, William — (1759 1833)    English philanthropist and leader of the CLAPHAM SECT. His EVANGELICAL CONVERSION in 1785 led him to become a staunch opponent of slavery and committed SOCIAL REFORMER. His views of RELIGION are set out in A Practical View of the… …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • Wilberforce, William — (1759 1833)    Philanthropist and religious writer, s. of a merchant, was b. at Hull, ed. at Camb., entered Parliament as member for his native town, became the intimate friend of Pitt, and was the leader of the crusade against the slave trade… …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Wilberforce — Wilberforce, William …   Enciclopedia Universal

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