On July 29, 1825, William Wilburford, one of the leaders of the abolition of slavery in England, died.
William Wilburford, member of the British House of Representatives (1780¨C1825), a philanthropist and abolitionist. Born in Kyston, Hull River, Yorkshire, England. He began his political career in 1780 and became a member of the House of Representatives representing Yorkshire (1784¨C1812), an independent member who supported the Toll Party. He was a close friend of Prime Minister William Little Pitt.
In 1785, he underwent a "rebirth" experience and became an evangelical Christian.
In 1787 he made friends with Thomas Clarkson and a group of members of the anti-slave trade movement, including Granville Sharp, Beilby Porteus, Hannah More, and Lord Middleton.
Under the persuasion of the above men, Wilberforce undertook the mission to become one of the leaders of the abolition movement in England, leading the abolition action in Parliament, fighting the slave trade in the British Empire, and personally witnessed the passage of the Slave Trade Act in 1807.
Wilburford also led a variety of missions and movements, including the Moral Restoration Movement, the Society for the Suppression of Vice and the Society for the Prevention of Animal Abuse. In his late years in Wilburford, he supported the movement for the complete abolition of slavery and led to the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, paving the way for the complete abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833.
He fought tirelessly for the abolition of slavery and died three days after Congress passed the Abolition of Slavery Act. Wilburford was buried in Westminster, next to his close friend, William Pitt.