William Wilberforce's Background
William Wilberforce was born on August 24, 1759, in Kingston upon Hull, England. When he was eighteen, Wilberforce attended Cambridge University. It was there that he decided to run for Parliament. At age of 21, Wilberforce was elected to represent his birthplace in Parliament. |
Four years after becoming a member of Parliament, Wilberforce traveled around Europe with his family. It was during this trip that he read the Christian book, Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul by Philip Doddridge, and was inspired to become a Christian. After his conversion, he became very depressed. He did not believe a Christian could serve God through politics. However, John Newton encouraged Wilberforce to keep his job.
|
"You do not deserve to know how to be happy even in this life, if you will not be persuaded to make an honest effort of comparison between any scheme that would promise to make you so independently of religion, and the felicity which would attend a religious course, commencing in youth." -Philip Doddridge in Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul |
The book talks about how effort results in happiness, explaining Wilberforce's conversion.
Wilberforce retired in 1825. He died of influenza on July 29, 1833, a few days after slavery was outlawed in the UK. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
"God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners (morality)."
-William Wilberforce