The Life and Legacy of William Wilberforce
Biography:
This month marks the 200th anniversary of a major accomplishment in the history of Great Britain that was brought about by William Wilberforce. Sadly, very few people know about the impact that Wilberforce had on his country and the world.
William Wilberforce was born on August 24, 1759 to a wealthy English family. When his father died, 9-year-old Wilberforce moved in with his aunt and uncle, where he was exposed to their evangelical faith, which was his only childhood religious background. His mother soon removed him from his aunt and uncle’s care, and Wilberforce began to get a gentlemen’s education, living a life of vanity and opulence.
During his college years, Wilberforce dreamed of becoming a politician and he befriended William Pitt, who had similar aspirations (William Pitt later became the British Prime Minister). The friends graduated from St. John’s College in Cambridge together and often spent time watching Parliament in action. A year later, Wilberforce campaigned to become a Member of Parliament. Despite incredible odds, 21-year-old Wilberforce was elected, thus beginning his life-long political career.
In 1784, Wilberforce began to spend time with Isaac Milner, a smart man of evangelical faith. The two men discussed and debated religion, and through the influence of Milner and his theological reading, Wilberforce realized the emptiness of his life and decided to make a change and live for Christ. Initially, Wilberforce felt he needed to step away from his political life, but he was persuaded otherwise by William Pitt and John Newton. Both men encouraged him to use his political influence to make a difference for his church and country. With the inspiration and influence of his friends, Wilberforce began to seek his purpose as a servant of God in the political spotlight.
In 1786, some of Wilberforce’s abolitionist friends asked him to lead their cause in Parliament. At that time, the slave trade was well established and widespread in Great Britain and in the opinions of many, it was justified. Nevertheless, Wilberforce agreed to lead this campaign and slowly came to understand his purpose. Wilberforce said, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (Hancock, 16). This became his life mission: the abolition of slave trade and the reversal of the moral decline.
Wilberforce immediately began to work to accomplish these goals. In Parliament, he supported laws which promoted morality. He also lived his life as an example of godliness and integrity. He gave to the poor, established orphanages, and fought for the welfare of many. Wilberforce also began to campaign for the abolition of the slave trade. Faced with great opposition, Wilberforce’s call for change was defeated time and time again. Yet he remained committed and persistent. Despite years of failure, he continued to fight for justice and liberty.
Finally, on February 23, 1807, nearly nine years after Wilberforce first introduced the motion, Parliament voted to abolish the slave trade. In the years the followed, laws against slavery and the slave trade continued to pass and be enforced, and Wilberforce, although no longer a Member of Parliament, continued to fight for the cause of freedom. Three days before his death, the Act of Emancipation was passed, ensuring the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom for the British slaves. Wilberforce, a man of faith and justice, lived to see his mission fulfilled. He had begun a revolution for liberty and morality.
Christian History Magazine. The “Shrimp” who Stopped Slavery. Hancock, Christopher. Issue 53.
Continuing His Mission:
In 1807, William Wilberforce’s persistence brought the first step in a revolution which still continues to this day. Wilberforce was driven by his purpose which he believed to be “the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (Hancock, 16). Although Wilberforce brought an end to the slave trade in England, his goals have by no means been fully accomplished, even now. Slavery continues in various places around the world and morality continues to decline. The same battles that Wilberforce faced 200 years ago, we are challenged with today. We must continue the revolution that he began and start making a difference in our world.
Slavery. The term generally reminds Americans of our country’s Civil War, a fight for liberty that has long been accomplished and resolved. The truth is, slavery continues even to his day, in far greater numbers than most people realize. Although the enslavement of fellow humans was abolished worldwide 80 years ago, it has been estimated that there are still about 27 million people in the bondage of slavery around the world today. Slavery exists on every continent (except Antarctica); in every corner of the inhabited globe, including the United States. Slaves are trafficked into the United States to be forced to fulfill the domestic, agricultural, and sexual desires of their captors. The four most common forms of slavery are debt bondage, sexual slavery, forced labor, and chattel slavery. Sadly, cases of such repulsive, inhumane behavior are not rare. India, Haiti, Sudan, and Southeast Asia are just a few examples where the most extreme cases of slavery are occurring. Men, women, and children are sold, traded, and abused like the most insignificant piece of property. This is the horror that William Wilberforce fought so hard to abolish, and this is the fight that we still face today. Wilberforce understood that it is the responsibility of the free to fight for those in bondage, and we too must stand together against the evils of slavery.
Wilberforce also understood that the conflicts of the time, including slavery, were mainly due to the lack of morality. Today, we face an even greater moral deficiency. William Wilberforce made a difference with a sort of quiet determination that was based on a solid, realistic worldview. For Christians in this depraved world, Wilberforce gave words of wisdom, encouragement, and strength that should guide our life and our witness. Christians, according to Wilberforce, ought to “boldly assert the cause of Christ in an age when so many who bear the name of Christian are ashamed of Him. Let them be active, useful, and generous towards others. Let them show moderation and self-denial themselves. Let them be ashamed of idleness” (Olasky, 44). Wilberforce understood that the only way to encourage morality in this world is to live it. That is how we begin to make a change. We must first reverse the moral decline and then, only then, can we imagine the world becoming a better place, free of slavery and other evils.
Christian History Magazine. The “Shrimp” who Stopped Slavery. Hancock, Christopher. Issue 53.
World Magazine. Humble Courage. Marvin Olasky. February 10, 2007.
The Movie:
On February 23, 1807, the slave trade was abolished in Great Britain at the hand of William Wilberforce. Two hundred years later, on February 23, 2007, a major motion picture describing the life and work of Wilberforce was released. Amazing Grace, as the movie is entitled, depicts the courage and determination of the remarkable man that much of the world seems to have forgotten.
For viewers who know little about William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace is a remarkable story of one mans persistence and conviction in working for justice. Still, those who already knew the story will be reminded anew of the difficulty that Wilberforce really faced. The movie clearly portrays that the abolition of the slave trade was no easy endeavor. Furthermore, the movie helps viewers to better understand Wilberforce as a man. Not only did he face great opposition in Parliament, but he also struggled daily with his health. No matter how great the pain, Wilberforce kept pushing forward toward his mission.
Amazing Grace also portrayed William Wilberforce’s spiritual life, which, in modern times, we rarely see in theaters. It is only through his faith that Wilberforce had the courage and conviction to continue toward the accomplishment of his goals. Still, the movie did not show the true affect that faith had on the life of Wilberforce. Despite making a point to mention his belief, Amazing Grace still undervalued Wilberforce’s relationship with God. In The Wall Street Journal, Charlotte Allen wrote an article entitled “Hollywood’s ‘Amazing’ Glaze” about what the movie director, Michael Apted, opted not to portray about Wilberforce. She wrote that Apted, “decided to play down Wilberforce’s religious convictions—that would be too ‘preachy,’ he said—and instead turned his story into a yeah of political triumph” (Allen, Hollywood’s “Amazing” Glaze). Nevertheless, Amazing Grace shows more of Wilberforce’s spiritual life than we are used to seeing at the movies.
Moviegoers will come away from Amazing Grace having a better understanding of the hero that continued in his mission against great opposition, fighting for justice and liberty. For a people that had in many ways forgotten Wilberforce, the movie was a reminder of true leadership and the influence that the actions of one man have had on the world.
Allen, Charlotte. “Hollywood’s ‘Amazing’ Glaze.” The Wall Street Journal. 23 Feb. 2007: W11.