WILLIAM WILBERFORCE:

The True Hero

When we talk about heroes, we often think of great warriors like Alexander the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte.

Yet William Wilberforce became a hero too,without spilling a single drop of blood. And he managed to touch the hearts of millions along his journey.

William Wilberforce was born in Hull on 24 August 1759, the only son of Robert Wilberforce (1728–68), a wealthy merchant and his wife Elizabeth.

In September 1780, at the age of twenty-one and still a student at Cambridge, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull.

In 1783 Wilberforce, while dining with his old friend, Gerard Edwards, at his home in Curzon Street, had met the former ship’s surgeon Rev. James Ramsay, who had become a clergyman on the island of St Christopher and medical supervisor of the plantations there.

What he had witnessed of the conditions of the slaves both at sea and on the plantations horrified him and then began William Wilberforce's battle.

William Wiberforce also started talking to his childhood pastor, John Newton as he was once a Captain of a slave ship.

Inspired by his renewed faith, Wilberforce was showing an increasing interest in humanitarian reform.

In November 1786 Wilberforce received a letter from Sir Charles Middleton which was to re-ignite his interest in the subject of the slave trade.

Wilberforce fought 45 years of tedious battle to abolish the ulcureous slave trade..

Many considered the slave trade to be the back bone of the Great Empire thus abolishing it might destroy the whole nation.

Petiton after petition was brought to the Parliment but they failed to convince them

Wilberforce had shown little interest in women but, in his late thirties, twenty-year-old Barbara Ann Spooner (1777–1847) was recommended as a potential bride.

He met her two days after, on 15 April 1797, was immediately smitten, and following a whirlwind of romance, he later proposed to her in 8 days ! They were devoted to each other and had 6 children together.

The Diagram was drawn and used by William Wilberforce in order to show the MPs the poor conditions faced by the slaves in the ship.

His battle continued after that and eventually, managed to convince the that the slave trade is nothing but a shame to such a mighty Empire!!!!!!

*Extra Info

John Newton is famous icon as he was the one who wrote the AMAZING GRACE hymn some time after converting to Christianity. The lyrics are based on his reflections on an Old Testament , adding his perspective about his own conversion while on his slave ship.

Amazing Grace :)

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That sav’d a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,I have already come;

Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess,

within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call’d me here below,

Will be forever mine.

John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779)

His story taught me that no matter how many times you fail, you must NEVER give up. SOunds fammiliar? Well, this man fought 45 years in the Britrish Parliment, fighting nearly ALL the MPs in the HOuse of Commans.

And he won :)

Thank u for spending your valuble time here . Vanakam