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Thomas Clarkson (1760–1846) born Wisbech, England

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Thomas Clarkson with items from the Clarkson Box in the drawing.
Nobody worked harder than Thomas Clarkson to overthrow slavery. Thomas Clarkson was raised by his mother after his father died when he was six years old. He attended his local grammar school and St Paul’s School in London, before going on to St. John's College, Cambridge in 1779. In June 1785, he entered a Latin prize essay competition. The subject was -'Is it right to make slaves of others against their will?' It changed his life. He read up the subject as well as he could, beginning with Anthony Benezet's Historical Account of Guinea, and soon found that, rather than just writing an academic argument, so consumed and disturbed was he by the subject matter, he started to write a work which he hoped, 'might be useful to injured Africa'. Whilst resting his horse at Wadesmill, Hertfordshire, when travelling between Cambridge and London, he underwent a moment of conversion; he later wrote: 'A thought came into my mind, that if the contents of the Essay were true, it was time some person should see these calamities to their end'. He devoted his life to the cause. With the support of Quakers, and other nonconformists, he co-founded the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in May 1787. Clarkson approached the young William Wilberforce for support who, as an Evangelical Christian, was one of very few parliamentarians to have had sympathy with an earlier Quaker petition. If Wilberforce became the parliamentary front for the cause, Clarkson was the backbone, researching and providing the evidence and information needed to make the case for abolition. Clarkson travelled over 35,000 miles. He wrote anti-slavery works, gave speeches and rallied support, often encountering hostility. Remembering the advice of James Ramsay (an early influence) he collected as much firsthand evidence as he could. The first ship Clarkson went on board was not a slave ship but an African trading vessel. The 'Lively' had arrived from Africa, its cargo included many goods produced by skilled craftsmen. Clarkson was horrified to think that these people could be enslaved. He bought samples and used them, along with other items he collected, in a box of evidence - 'Clarkson's Box' that is today kept at the Wisbech Museum. Throughout his travels he encountered many people. In 1789 Clarkson wrote to the Rev. Mr. Jones at Trinity College, introducing Gustavus Vassa (Olaudah Equiano) the African anti-slavery author. After the passage of the Slave Trade Act in 1807, his efforts were directed towards ensuring the enforcement of the act and seeking to see the total abolition of slavery. In the 1820's, when the focus came back on the campaign, at the age of 60 he embarked on a gruelling tour to mobilise support. After the act was passed to abolish slavery in the British Empire in 1833, he continued to press for abolition in America and elsewhere. In his 70's and 80's, he was still campaigning. He assisted in the formation of a world movement to end slavery (now named Anti-Slavery International), and was president of the first World Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840. His tireless work brought him great respect. At his funeral, attended by family, friends and members of the Anti-Slavery Society, the Quakers, who usually refused to pay homage to anyone except the king of heaven, made an extraordinary break from tradition and removed their hats.

Added:
1st Dec 2007 by Diane Earl

Subjects:
Citizenship, History

Key Stages:
Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 4+

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