William Wilberforce was born on August 24, 1759 as the only son of Robert Wilberforce and Elizabeth Bird. His father was a wealthy merchant. As young child he was mostly unwell and had poor eyesight. He gained his early education from Hull Grammar School. His father’s died in 1768. Wilberforce was put under the care of his uncle and aunt under whose influence he leaned towards evangelicalism.
He returned to Hull in 1771, where he resumed his studies. The religious passion lessened as he involved himself in social outings and led a pleasure-seeking lifestyle. For higher studies he enrolled at St John’s College, in Cambridge. In 1781, he was awarded a B.A. degree and in 1788, he received his M.A. degree. It was at college that Wilberforce considered a career in politics. In 1780, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull. He was lucky to have excellent debating skills. “My walk is a public one. My business is in the world, and I must mix in the assemblies of men or quit the post which Providence seems to have assigned me.” (William Wilberforce)
He gained a reputation for himself as an influential speaker with a sharp sense of intelligence. He …show more content…
A humanitarian reformer, he spent the better part of his life working for the cause of abolition of slavery and slave trade. “So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the [slave] trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”(William Wilberforce) After years and decades of campaigning he finally found success in 1807 when Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was given a Royal Assent. His next success came just three days before his death when Abolition of the Slavery Bill was passed in the House of
He returned to Hull in 1771, where he resumed his studies. The religious passion lessened as he involved himself in social outings and led a pleasure-seeking lifestyle. For higher studies he enrolled at St John’s College, in Cambridge. In 1781, he was awarded a B.A. degree and in 1788, he received his M.A. degree. It was at college that Wilberforce considered a career in politics. In 1780, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull. He was lucky to have excellent debating skills. “My walk is a public one. My business is in the world, and I must mix in the assemblies of men or quit the post which Providence seems to have assigned me.” (William Wilberforce)
He gained a reputation for himself as an influential speaker with a sharp sense of intelligence. He …show more content…
A humanitarian reformer, he spent the better part of his life working for the cause of abolition of slavery and slave trade. “So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the [slave] trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.”(William Wilberforce) After years and decades of campaigning he finally found success in 1807 when Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was given a Royal Assent. His next success came just three days before his death when Abolition of the Slavery Bill was passed in the House of