SHORT LIFE AND PROFILE OF WILLIAM WILBERFOCE

EARLY LIFE
William Wilberforce was born to Robert Wilberforce and Elizabeth Bird on 24 August, 1759
in Hull at east of Yorkshire. Wilberforce was a sickly and delicate child with poor eyesight.
He went to Hull Grammar school. At age 9 he lost his father and unable to cope, his mother
sent him to live with his uncle and aunt where he went to a boarding school for two years. He
became influenced in evangelical Christianity due to the influence of his relatives. He
returned to Hull at age 12 in 1771 and continued his education at Pocklington School from
1771-1776.
In October 1776 at 17, Wilberforce went to St. John’s College, Cambridge. In 1777,
Wilberforce lost his grandfather which made him independently wealthy. Wilberforce
engaged in in hedonistic lifestyle enjoying cards, gambling and late-night drinking. William
managed to earn a Bachelors Degree in Arts And Masters Degree in Arts.

MIDDLE LIFE AND CAREER

William Wilberforce developed interest in politics under the influence of his life-Long friend
William Pitt. In 1780 at age 21, William Wilberforce became an independent Member of
Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hill. In 1784 Wilberforce again contested as an
independent parliamentary candidate for the County of Yorkshire in the 1784 general election
and won his seat at age 24.
In 1785, Wilberforce grew in faith and became a religious evangelical Christian. Wilberforce
campaigned for a number of causes for legislation to improve the life of the poor, education,
prison reforms, ending child labor and was one of the founders of Royal Society of the
prevention of cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). He became Leader of the Society for Abolition of
Slavery. The society campaigned for about 20 years to bring an end to British involvement in
the Transatlantic slave trade. In 1792, Wilberforce moved to Clapham London where he
became a member of the Clappham sect. Who actively supported the anti-slavery abolitionist.
In 1797, Wilberforce got married to Barbara Ann Spooner and had six children with her. He
was a loving and devoted husband and father. Wilberforce kept Championing the campaign
for abolition slave trade in Britain. He attempted severally to pass bills to end British
involvement in slave trade and failed.
In 1825, Wilberforce retired from politics due to ill health. On April 6, 1833 three days
before his death, he was told that the slavery abolition bill had been passed. He died at age 73
and was buried in Westminster Abbey as a mark of respect.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES OF WILLIAM WIBERFORCE

1. Wilberforce was an opportunist, spiritual, transformational and an action leader
considering the fact that he made use of every little group he makes to champion the cause of
abolition slave trade
2. Wilberforce was a Charismatic and visionary Leader taking into account how he
became accepted by the Clapham people.