William Wilberforce Brown Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

William Wilberforce was a renowned British politician, philanthropist, and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. Born in 1759 in Kingston upon Hull, Wilberforce studied at Cambridge University before being elected as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in 1784. It was during this time that he underwent a spiritual awakening, leading him to become an evangelical Christian and dedicate his life to social reform.

Wilberforce’s most significant achievement was his tireless campaign to end the British slave trade. He introduced his first anti-slavery motion in Parliament in 1788, and despite facing strong opposition from those with vested interests in the trade, he persevered. His efforts finally bore fruit with the passing of the Slave Trade Act in 1807, which abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. Wilberforce continued to work towards the complete abolition of slavery, which was finally achieved just three days before his death in 1833.

Beyond his anti-slavery work, Wilberforce was a committed social reformer. He championed causes such as education for the poor, animal welfare, and the reformation of public manners and morals. He was also a devoted family man, marrying Barbara Ann Spooner in 1797, with whom he had six children. One of his sons, Samuel Wilberforce, would go on to become a notable bishop in the Church of England.

From 1821, Wilberforce resided at Broomwood House (formerly Broomfield) in Wandsworth, London. It was here that he continued his work on the abolition campaign in the years leading up to the passing of the Slave Trade Act. The house stood on the site behind the current 111 Broomwood Road until 1904. Today, Wandsworth remembers its famous resident with pride, and Wilberforce’s legacy as a tireless campaigner for social justice continues to inspire people around the world.