WILBERFORCE, William

  • Era: 1759 - 1833
  • Location: England
  • Categories: POLITICS, RELIGION

 

As an elected Member of Parliament, he campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade, initially in the UK and subsequently throughout the world. He was inspired in this by his evangelical Christianity which also led him to ask critical questions about the ‘middle-classified’ moral lip-service of many of his fellow Anglicans and wider church-goers. Criticisms of him focus on evidence of apparent inconsistencies in his thinking and the risk of moralising. What is indisputable is the integrity of his intention to match words with deeds.