William Wilberforce Biography and Timeline

Birth of William Wilberforce

Birth of William Wilberforce

Election

Elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull, while still a student at Cambridge

Election

Returned as Member of Parliament for Yorkshire at the age of twenty-four

Slavery

Wilberforce receives a letter from Captain Sir Charles Middleton, MP, and father-in-law of his old friend Gerard Edwards, which was to ignite again his old interest in the subject of the slave trade

Slavery

Under what came to be known as the Wilberforce Oak at Holwood, Pitt challenged his friend: "Wilberforce, why dont you give notice of a motion on the subject of the Slave Trade?"

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Wilberforce, compelled by his strong Christian faith, is persuaded to become leader of the Parliamentary campaign of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

And a collaboration was formed which was to last over fifty years.

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Becomes a convert to anti-slavery.

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

For abolition in.

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

The Quaker members of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade recognise their need for influence within Parliament and urge Clarkson to secure an immediate commitment from Wilberforce that he would bring forward the case.

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Thomas Clarkson, already convinced of his God-given mission, calls upon Wilberforce at Old Palace Yard with a copy of his Essay on Slavery, the first time the two men had met.

Role range: 1763-1809

Government Report

When the Privy Council report was published on 25 April 1789, it was finally time for Wilberforce to make his delayed entry into the Parliamentary campaign, after months of planning Wilberforce makes his first major speech on the subject of abolition

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Wilberforce draws on Thomas Clarksons evidence in the Commons, he describes in detail the appalling conditions in which slaves travelled from Africa. When the Privy Council report was published on 25 April 1789, it was finally time for Wilberforce to make his delayed entry into the Parliamentary campaign, after months of planning Wilberforce makes his first major speech on the subject of abolition

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Wilberforce leads the establishment of the Society for Suppression of Vice and Encouragement of Religion to curb political aspiration and support for the French Revolution

Role range: 1763-1809

Society for Suppression of Vice

Wilberforce leads the establishment of the Society for Suppression of Vice and Encouragement of Religion to curb political aspiration and support for the French Revolution

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Wilberforce succeedes in gaining approval for a Parliamentary select committee to consider the slave trade and to examine the vast quantity of evidence which he put forward

Role range: 1763-1809

Slave Trade Bill

Introduces a parliamentary bill to abolish the slave trade

Slavery

Wilberforce introduces the first Parliamentary Bill to abolish the slave trade with a closely-reasoned speech which he used to present the facts and evidence that had been gathered, and which lasted four hours. After two evenings of debate, the bill was easily defeated by 163 votes to 88

Role range: 1763-1809

Legislation

Henry Dundas, Home Secretary, proposes a compromise of so-gradual abolition over a number of years, passsed by 230 to 85 votes, but the compromise is la clever ploy to indefinitly delay final abolition

Role range: 1763-1809

Reform of Electoral System

Henry Dundas, Home Secretary, proposes a compromise of so-gradual abolition over a number of years, passsed by 230 to 85 votes, but the compromise is la clever ploy to indefinitly delay final abolition

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Wilberforce again presents a bill calling for abolition, the memorable debate that followed brought contributions from the greatest orators in the house, William Pitt and Charles Fox, as well as Wilberforce himself. Henry Dundas, Home Secretary, proposes a compromise of so-gradual abolition over a number of years, passsed by 230 to 85 votes, but the compromise is la clever ploy to indefinitly delay final abolition

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Another propose bill is narrowly lost

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Brings before Parliament a Foreign Slave Bill, with the intention of outlawing the use of British ships to the colonies and territories of other countries, Parliament refuses to pass the bill

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

War with France prevents abolition as the public mood is concentrated on the national crisis and the threat of invasion, although Wilberforce continues forwards defeated motions in February 1795, February 1796 and May 1797

Role range: 1763-1809

Legislation

The Slave Trade Regulation Act is passed to further reduce overcrowding on slave ships

Role range: 1763-1809

Reform of Trade

The Slave Trade Regulation Act is passed to further reduce overcrowding on slave ships

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

The Slave Trade Regulation Act is passed to further reduce overcrowding on slave ships

Role range: 1763-1809

Slavery

Wilberforce reintroduceS his Bill it in the 1805 session, on this occasion it is defeated on the second reading

Legislation

The Foreign Slave Trade Act is quickly passed and the tactic proves successful, the new legislation effectively prohibited two-thirds of the British slave trade

Role range: 1763-1809

Reform of Trade

The Foreign Slave Trade Act is quickly passed and the tactic proves successful, the new legislation effectively prohibited two-thirds of the British slave trade

Slavery

The Foreign Slave Trade Act is quickly passed and the tactic proves successful, the new legislation effectively prohibited two-thirds of the British slave trade. A change of tactics, which involved introducing a bill to ban British subjects from aiding or participating in the slave trade to the French colonies is suggested by maritime lawyer James Stephen in early 1806

Slavery

A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, an essay summarizing the evidence, is published by Wilberforce and forms the basis for the final phase of the campaign

Slavery

Charles Grey moves for a second reading in the Commons, as tributes are made to Wilberforce, who had laboured for the cause during the preceding twenty years, the bill was carried by 283 votes to 16

Legislation

The Slave Trade Act receives the royal assent

Role range: 1763-1809

Reform of Trade

The Slave Trade Act receives the royal assent

Slavery

The Slave Trade Act receives the royal assent

Slavery

Wilberforces bill passes all its stages through the House of Commons but it was too late in the Parliamentary session for it to complete its passage through the House of Lords

Slave Trade Abolition Debates

Parliamentary reports preserve the arguments surrounding legislation abolishing the British slave trade, a cause long championed by Wilberforce.

Appeal

Wilberforce publishes his "Appeal to the Religion, Justice and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire in Behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies"

Slavery

Wilberforce publishes his "Appeal to the Religion, Justice and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire in Behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies"