William Wilberforce (1759-1833) politician, philanthropist and slavery abolitionist

  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Downing Street

    William Wilberforce is best known for his work towards the abolition of slavery. He was an evangelical Christian philanthropist and statesman, who helped to found the Church Missionary Society in 1799 and the Bible Society in 1804. Wilberforce joined the campaign against the slave trade in 1787, during his time as a Yorkshire MP, and witnessed the abolition of the slave trade in Britain in 1807. He also joined the Anti-Slavery Society in its foundation year of 1823 and campaigned for the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire, a goal which was achieved in 1833, the year of his death.

    This portrait bust is related to Samuel Joseph's monumental statue of Wilberforce in Westminster Abbey, which was installed in 1840 and is based on Jean-Antoine Houdon's portrait of Voltaire of 1781.

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  • Details
    Title
    William Wilberforce (1759-1833) politician, philanthropist and slavery abolitionist
    Date
    1833
    Medium
    Marble bust
    Dimensions
    height: 76.00 cm, width: 50.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Robin Eden, Corsham, February 1953
    Inscription
    verso: S. Joseph / Sculp:t 1833
    GAC number
    2036