Last week I wrote about the early life of Thomas Clarkson, who became convinced of the evils of slavery while writing an academic thesis, and dedicated his life to campaigning for its abolition. I continue his story today.
It is one thing to become convinced that something is wrong, but a huge challenge to then go on to convince others, and mount an international campaign for its abolition, especially when many famous influential people had huge vested interests in continuing to trade in slaves. Clarkson used his writing ability to produce the work, “Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African” in 1786. This was the first indictment of human traffic to reach a wide audience. He met with the Quakers who had led the way with anti-slavery writing and other prominent abolitionists. A co ordinating committee was formed in 1787 and faced a massive task to ignite public opinion to such a point that Parliament would change the law, despite powerful vested interests. At this point the charismatic William Wilberforce was enlisted to be their public voice.
Clarkson was the architect of the campaign and set about organising a grass roots movement while investigating the trade in the ports of London, Bristol and Liverpool, compiling the evidence to persuade Parliament to act. He rode 35,000 miles on horseback and local committees sprang up in his wake. Petitions poured into Parliament and 300,000 people boycotted slave grown sugar. Women proudly wore the Wedgewood medallion of a chained slave with the inscription, “Am I not a man and a brother?” With astonishing speed, the public attitude moved from indifference to the view that the slave trade was a crime. Clarkson’s belief that people had only to be informed to act on behalf of their fellow men was vindicated but in Parliament the shipbuilders, plantation owners and manufacturers fought back and it was 20 years before the Act abolishing the slave trade became law in 1807.
There is more to Clarkson’s story that I must share sometime, but for now suffice it to say that, with his wife, Catherine Buck, he settled at Playford Hall, near Ipswich, as a tenant, in 1816. He managed the 340 acre farm there, in between bouts of campaigning and at his desk, and he died there in 1846. He is buried in Playford churchyard where there is a small memorial to him. At the Wisbech and Fenland Museum in the Fens there is a comprehensive display of material related to Thomas Clarkson and the abolition movement. He was truly a wonderful Christian man who lived out his convictions and changed the course of history.
Prayer. God our Father, we thank you for those who have shown courage and determination to fight evil practices and change the world for the better. We can learn so much from the example of your servant Thomas Clarkson, who spent his life fighting for the oppressed with such amazing results.