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133-587: Carlton was a popular name in the Regency era and beyond, suggesting an "ambience of elegance" linked to the Carlton House residence of the Prince Regent . The street was developed in the mid-nineteenth century and was originally known as Carlton Road . Most of the original buildings were Victorian , although few survive today. The Anglo-Catholic St. Augustine's Church was built just north of Carlton Vale to serve

266-587: A heavyweight always had a natural advantage over smaller fighters. Even so, the first British champion of the Regency era was Daniel Mendoza , a middleweight who had successfully claimed the vacant title in 1792. He held it until he was defeated by the heavyweight Gentleman John Jackson in April 1795. Other Regency era champions were famous fighters like Jem Belcher , Hen Pearce , John Gully , Tom Cribb , Tom Spring , Jem Ward and James Burke . Gully went on to become

399-584: A 400-page book which formed the basis for the final phase of the campaign. Lord Grenville, the Prime Minister, successfully introduced an Abolition Bill in the House of Lords first, then Charles Grey moved for a second reading in the Commons on 23 February 1807. As tributes were made to Wilberforce, whose face streamed with tears, the bill was carried by 283 votes to 16. Excited supporters suggested taking advantage of

532-657: A God-given political and social order, and focused on issues such as the observance of the Sabbath and the eradication of immorality through education and reform. He was often distrusted by progressive voices because of his conservatism, and regarded with suspicion by many Tories who saw evangelicals as radicals who wanted to the overthrow of church and state. In 1786, Wilberforce leased a house in Old Palace Yard , Westminster , in order to be near Parliament. He began using his parliamentary position to advocate reform by introducing

665-411: A Registration Bill, proposing limited changes to parliamentary election procedures. In response to the need for bodies for dissection by surgeons, he brought forward a bill to extend the measure permitting the dissection after execution of criminals such as rapists, arsonists, burglars and violent robbers. The bill also advocated the reduction of sentences for women convicted of treason, a crime that at

798-796: A bad harvest in 1816 (the " Year Without a Summer "), and an ongoing population boom . Political response to the crisis included the Corn Laws , the Peterloo Massacre , and the Representation of the People Act 1832 . Led by William Wilberforce , there was increasing support for the abolitionist cause during the Regency era, culminating in passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807 and the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 . The longer timespan recognises

931-673: A burial in Westminster Abbey . The family agreed and, on 3 August 1833, Wilberforce was buried in the north transept, close to his friend William Pitt. The funeral was attended by many Members of Parliament, as well as by members of the public. The pallbearers included the Duke of Gloucester , the Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham, and the Speaker of the House of Commons Charles Manners-Sutton . While tributes were paid and Wilberforce

1064-1156: A busy correspondence on the subject. In 1823 Wilberforce's 56-page "Appeal to the Religion, Justice and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire in Behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies" was published. The treatise stated that total emancipation was morally and ethically required and that slavery was a national crime which must be ended by parliamentary legislation to gradually abolish slavery. Members of Parliament did not agree, and government opposition in March 1823 stymied Wilberforce's call for abolition. On 15 May 1823, Buxton moved another resolution in Parliament for gradual emancipation. Subsequent debates followed on 16 March and 11 June 1824 in which Wilberforce made his last speeches in

1197-420: A commitment from Wilberforce to bring forward the case for abolition in the House of Commons. It was arranged that Bennet Langton, a Lincolnshire landowner and mutual acquaintance of Wilberforce and Clarkson, would organise a dinner party on 13 March 1787 to ask Wilberforce formally to lead the parliamentary campaign. By the end of the evening, Wilberforce had agreed in general terms that he would bring forward

1330-520: A contingency, the Act provided for his mother, Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales , to be appointed regent and discharge most but not all royal functions. In 1761, George III married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and over the following years they had 15 children (nine sons and six daughters). The eldest was Prince George , born on 12 August 1762 as heir apparent. He was named Prince of Wales soon after his birth. By 1765, three infant children led

1463-422: A decline in public support. Despite this, Wilberforce continued to introduce abolition bills throughout the 1790s. The early years of the 19th century saw an increased public interest in abolition. In June 1804, Wilberforce's bill to abolish the slave trade successfully passed all its stages through the House of Commons. However, it was too late in the parliamentary session for it to complete its passage through

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1596-528: A lady's rank, she may be expected to be proficient in reading and writing, mathematics, dancing, music, sewing, and embroidery. In Pride and Prejudice , the Bennet sisters are frequently out walking and it is at a ball where Elizabeth meets Mr Darcy . There was a contemporary belief that people had limited energy levels with women, as the "weaker sex", being most at risk of over-exertion because their menstruation cycles caused periodic energy reductions. One of

1729-522: A large volume of evidence against the slave trade over the previous two decades, and Wilberforce spent the latter part of 1806 writing A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade , which was a comprehensive restatement of the abolitionists' case. Wilberforce was re-elected as an MP for Yorkshire in the 1806 United Kingdom general election , after which he returned to finishing and publishing his Letter ,

1862-715: A leading early 18th-century English nonconformist. Wilberforce's spiritual journey is thought to have changed course at this time. He started to rise early to read the Bible and pray and kept a private journal. He underwent an evangelical conversion , regretting his past life and resolving to commit his future life and work to the service of God. His conversion changed some of his habits, but not his nature: he remained outwardly cheerful, interested and respectful, tactfully urging others towards his new faith. Inwardly, he became self-critical, harshly judging his spirituality, use of time, vanity , self-control and relationships with others. At

1995-460: A lifelong concern for reform. In 1787, Wilberforce came into contact with Thomas Clarkson and a group of activists against the slave trade, including Granville Sharp , Hannah More and Charles Middleton . They persuaded Wilberforce to take on the cause of abolition, and he became a leading English abolitionist . He headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for 20 years until

2128-404: A more modest property in the countryside of Mill Hill , north of London, where he was joined by his son William and family. William had attempted a series of educational and career paths, and a venture into farming in 1830 led to huge losses, which his father repaid in full, despite offers from others to assist. This left Wilberforce with little income, and he was obliged to let his home and spend

2261-519: A more positive direction, thereby leaving him with the pursuit of pleasure as his only outlet, as well as his sole form of rebellion against what he saw as disapproval and censure in the form of his father. In the 1810s, the Prince Regent proposed the conversion of Crown land in Marylebone and St Pancras into a pleasure garden. The design work was initially assigned to the architect John Nash but it

2394-513: A motion concerning the slave trade before another parliamentarian did. Wilberforce's response is not recorded, but he later declared this was when he decided to bring forward the motion. Wilberforce had planned to introduce a motion giving notice that he would bring forward a bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade during the 1789 parliamentary session. However, in January 1788, he was taken ill with

2527-503: A no-holds-barred pastime with an unlimited number of players on opposing teams which might comprise whole parishes or villages. The playing area was an undefined stretch of land between the two places. The ball , as such, was often a pig's bladder that had been inflated and the object of the exercise was to move the ball by any means possible to a distant target such as a church in the opposing village. The contests were typically arranged to take place on feast days like Shrove Tuesday . By

2660-523: A notorious example being St Giles in London. These were places where alcoholism, gambling, prostitution, thievery and violence prevailed. The population boom, comprising an increase from just under a million in 1801 to one and a quarter million by 1820, heightened the crisis. Robert Southey drew a comparison between the squalor of the slums and the glamour of the Regent's circle: The squalor that existed beneath

2793-492: A probable stress-related condition, now thought to be ulcerative colitis . It was several months before he was able to resume work, and he spent time convalescing at Bath and Cambridge. His regular bouts of gastrointestinal illnesses precipitated the use of moderate quantities of opium , which proved effective in alleviating his condition, and which he continued to use for the rest of his life. In Wilberforce's absence, Pitt, who had long been supportive of abolition, introduced

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2926-531: A rental dispute and the club took temporary lease of a second ground in St John's Wood . This was in use for only three seasons until the land was requisitioned because it was on the proposed route of the Regent's Canal . MCC moved to a nearby site on which they established their present ground. Lord Byron played for Harrow School in the first Eton v Harrow match at Lord's in 1805. The match became an annual event in

3059-434: A result he had little inclination or need to apply himself to serious study. Instead he immersed himself in the social round of student life and pursued a hedonistic lifestyle, enjoying cards, gambling and late-night drinking sessions – although he found the excesses of some of his fellow students distasteful. Witty, generous and an excellent conversationalist, Wilberforce was a popular figure. He made many friends, including

3192-461: A result, his home was full of old and incompetent servants kept on in charity. Although he was often months behind in his correspondence, Wilberforce responded to numerous requests for advice or for help in obtaining professorships, military promotions and livings for clergymen, or for the reprieve of death sentences. A supporter of the evangelical wing of the Church of England, Wilberforce believed that

3325-565: A return to Hull Grammar School because the headmaster had become a Methodist, and Wilberforce continued his education at Pocklington School from 1771 to 1776. Influenced by Methodist scruples, he initially resisted Hull's lively social life, but, as his religious fervour diminished, he embraced theatre-going, attended balls, and played cards. In October 1776, at the age of seventeen, Wilberforce went up to St John's College, Cambridge . The deaths of his grandfather and uncle, in 1774 and 1777 respectively, had left him independently wealthy and as

3458-456: A similar bill. Wilberforce advocated legislation to improve the working conditions for chimney-sweeps and textile workers, engaged in prison reform , and supported campaigns to restrict capital punishment and the severe punishments meted out under the Game laws . He recognised the importance of education in alleviating poverty, and when Hannah More and her sister established Sunday schools for

3591-535: A smaller parliamentary select committee to consider the vast quantity of evidence which had been accumulated. Wilberforce's house in Old Palace Yard became a centre for the abolitionists' campaign and the location for many strategy meetings. Petitioners for other causes also besieged him there. Let us not despair; it is a blessed cause, and success, ere long, will crown our exertions. Already we have gained one victory; we have obtained, for these poor creatures,

3724-520: A successful racehorse owner and, representing the Pontefract constituency , a Member of the first post-Reform Parliament from December 1832 to July 1837. Cribb was the first fighter to be acclaimed world champion after he twice defeated the American Tom Molineaux in 1811. Marylebone Cricket Club , widely known as MCC, was founded in 1787 and became cricket 's governing body. In 1788,

3857-401: A time of refinement and culture, that was the preserve of the wealthy few, especially those in the Prince Regent's own social circle. For the masses, poverty was rampant as population began to concentrate due to industrial labour migration. City dwellers lived in increasingly larger slums , a state of affairs severely aggravated by the combined impact of war, economic collapse, mass unemployment,

3990-478: Is the world's oldest running club. The school organised paper chase races in which the hounds followed a trail of paper shreds left by two "foxes". The oldest running race of the modern era is Shrewsbury's Annual Steeplechase (cross-country), first definitely recorded in 1834. The following is a list of places associated with the Regency era: For more names see Newman (1997). William Wilberforce William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833)

4123-567: The Care of King During his Illness, etc. Act 1811 , commonly known as the Regency Act 1811 . The King was suspended from his duties as head of state and the Prince of Wales assumed office as Prince Regent on 5 February 1811. At first, Parliament restricted some of the Regent's powers, but the constraints expired one year after the passage of the Act. The Regency ended when George III died on 29 January 1820 and

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4256-558: The City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden . Following the death of Raffles soon afterwards, the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne assumed responsibility for the project and supervised construction of the first animal houses. At first, the zoo was used for scientific purposes only with admittance restricted to Fellows of the ZSL which, in 1829, was granted a Royal charter by George IV. The zoo

4389-562: The French Riviera and had dinners, played cards, and gambled. In February 1785, Wilberforce returned to London temporarily, to support Pitt's proposals for parliamentary reforms. He rejoined the party in Genoa , Italy, and they continued their tour to Switzerland. Milner accompanied Wilberforce to England, and on the journey they read "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul" by Philip Doddridge ,

4522-448: The Prince of Wales said that he would go anywhere to hear Wilberforce sing. Wilberforce used his speaking voice to great effect in political speeches; the diarist and author James Boswell witnessed Wilberforce's eloquence in the House of Commons and noted, "I saw what seemed a mere shrimp mount upon the table; but as I listened, he grew, and grew, until the shrimp became a whale." During

4655-758: The River Thames in London. In sailing, the first Cowes Week regatta was held on the Solent in August 1826. Track and field competitions in the modern sense were first recorded in the early 19th century. They are known to have been held by schools, colleges, army and navy bases, social clubs and the like, often as a challenge to a rival establishment. In the public schools, athletics competitions were conceived as human equivalents of horse racing or fox hunting with runners known as "hounds" and named as if they were racehorses. The Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt , established in 1819,

4788-764: The Royal Academy . The National Gallery was established in London in 1824. The plays of William Shakespeare were very popular throughout the period. The performers wore modern dress, however, rather than 16th-century costumes. London had three patent theatres at Covent Garden , Drury Lane and the Haymarket . Other prominent theatres were the Theatre Royal, Bath and the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin . The playwright and politician Richard Brinsley Sheridan controlled

4921-623: The United States had abolished the slave trade after 1808 and Wilberforce lobbied the American government to enforce its own mandated prohibition more strongly. The same year, Wilberforce moved his family from Clapham to a sizeable mansion with a large garden in Kensington Gore , closer to the Houses of Parliament. In worsening health by 1812, Wilberforce resigned his Yorkshire seat , and became MP for

5054-611: The Victorian era (1837–1901). The latter term had contemporaneous usage although some historians give it an earlier startpoint, typically the enactment of the Great Reform Act on 7 June 1832. The Prince Regent himself was one of the leading patrons of the arts and architecture . He ordered the costly building and refurbishing of the exotic Brighton Pavilion , the ornate Carlton House , and many other public works and architecture. This all required considerable expense which neither

5187-473: The rotten borough of Bramber in Sussex , a seat with little or no constituency obligations, thus allowing him more time for his family and the causes that interested him. From 1816, Wilberforce introduced a series of bills which would require the compulsory registration of enslaved people, together with details of their country of origin, permitting the illegal importation of foreign slaves to be detected. Later in

5320-462: The 1780s with the establishment of the Quakers ' anti-slavery committees, and their presentation to Parliament of the first slave trade petition in 1783. The same year, Wilberforce, while dining with his Cambridge friend Gerard Edwards, met Rev. James Ramsay , a ship's surgeon who had become a clergyman and medical supervisor on the island of St Christopher (later St Kitts ). Ramsay was horrified by

5453-589: The 1793 renewal of the British East India Company 's charter to propose the addition of clauses requiring the company to provide teachers and chaplains and to commit to the "religious improvement" of Indians. The plan was unsuccessful due to lobbying by the directors of the company, who feared that their commercial interests would be damaged. Wilberforce tried again in 1813 when the charter next came up for renewal. Using petitions, meetings, lobbying and letter writing, he successfully campaigned for changes to

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5586-665: The 1819 Peterloo Massacre in which eleven protesters were killed at a political rally demanding reform. Concerned about "bad men who wished to produce anarchy and confusion", he approved of the government's Six Acts , which further limited public meetings and seditious writings . Wilberforce's actions led the essayist William Hazlitt to condemn him as one "who preaches vital Christianity to untutored savages, and tolerates its worst abuses in civilised states." Wilberforce's views of women and religion were also conservative. He disapproved of women anti-slavery activists such as Elizabeth Heyrick , who organised women's abolitionist groups in

5719-485: The 1820s, protesting: "[F]or ladies to meet, to publish, to go from house to house stirring up petitions—these appear to me proceedings unsuited to the female character as delineated in Scripture." Wilberforce initially strongly opposed bills for Catholic emancipation , which would have allowed Catholics to become MPs, hold public office and serve in the army, although by 1813, he had changed his views and spoke in favour of

5852-423: The 1840s, is located at the junction with Loudoun Road . 51°31′56″N 0°11′27″W  /  51.5323°N 0.1909°W  / 51.5323; -0.1909 This London road or road transport-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Regency era The Regency era of British history is commonly understood as the years between c.  1795 and 1837, although

5985-463: The Drury Lane Theatre until it burned down in 1809. Among the popular newspapers, pamphlets and other publications of the era were: In 1814, The Times adopted steam printing. Using this method, it could print 1,100 sheets every hour, five and a half times the prior rate of 200 per hour. The faster speed of printing enabled the rise of the " silver fork novels " which depicted the lives of

6118-635: The French court at Fontainebleau . Pitt became Prime Minister in December 1783, with Wilberforce a key supporter of his minority government . Despite their close friendship, there is no record that Pitt offered Wilberforce a ministerial position in this or future governments. This may have been due to Wilberforce's wish to remain an independent MP. Alternatively, Wilberforce's frequent tardiness and disorganisation, as well as his chronic eye problems that at times made reading impossible, may have convinced Pitt that he

6251-491: The House of Commons, and which again saw the emancipationists outmanoeuvred by the government. Wilberforce's health was continuing to fail, and he suffered further illnesses in 1824 and 1825. With his family concerned that his life was endangered, he declined a peerage and resigned his seat in Parliament, leaving the campaign to others. In 1826, Wilberforce moved from his large house in Kensington Gore to Hendon Park,

6384-406: The House of Lords. On its reintroduction during the 1805 session, it was defeated, with even the usually sympathetic Pitt failing to support it. On this occasion and throughout the campaign, abolition was held back by Wilberforce's trusting, even credulous nature, and his deferential attitude towards those in power. He found it difficult to believe that men of rank would not do what he perceived to be

6517-525: The King recovered and the Bill was withdrawn. Had it been passed into law, the Prince of Wales would have become the regent in 1789. The King's mental health continued to be a matter of concern but, whenever he was of sound mind, he opposed any further moves to implement a Regency Act. Finally, following the death on 2 November 1810 of his youngest daughter, Princess Amelia , he became permanently insane. Parliament passed

6650-672: The Lord's Day , and other dissolute, immoral, or disorderly practices". Greeted largely with public indifference, Wilberforce sought to increase its impact by mobilising public figures to the cause, and by founding the Society for the Suppression of Vice . This and other societies in which Wilberforce was a prime mover, mustered support for the prosecution of those who had been charged with violating relevant laws, including brothel keepers, distributors of pornographic material, and those who did not respect

6783-425: The Prince Regent succeeded him as George IV. After George IV died in 1830, a further Regency Act was passed by Parliament. George IV was succeeded by his brother William IV . His wife, Queen Adelaide , was 37 and there were no surviving legitimate children. The heir presumptive was Princess Victoria of Kent , aged eleven. The new Act provided for her mother, Victoria, Dowager Duchess of Kent to become regent in

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6916-763: The Regency era, the five classic races had all been inaugurated and have been run annually since 1814. These races are the St Leger Stakes (first run in 1776), The Oaks (1779), the Epsom Derby (1780), the 2,000 Guineas Stakes (1809) and the 1,000 Guineas Stakes (1814). National Hunt racing began in 18th century Ireland and developed in England through the Regency era. There are tentative references to races held between 1792 and 1810. The first definitely recorded hurdle race took place on Durdham Down , near Bristol , in 1821. The first officially recognised steeplechase

7049-497: The Regent himself nor HM Treasury could afford. The Regent's extravagance was pursued at the expense of the common people. While the Regency is noted for its elegance and achievements in the fine arts and architecture, there was a concurrent need for social, political and economic change. The country was enveloped in the Napoleonic Wars until June 1815 and the conflict heavily impacted commerce at home and internationally. There

7182-477: The Sabbath. The writer and clergyman Sydney Smith criticised Wilberforce for being more interested in the sins of the poor than those of the rich, and suggested that a better name would be the "Society for suppressing the vices of persons whose income does not exceed £500 per annum". Wilberforce's attempts to legislate against adultery and Sunday newspapers were also in vain; his involvement and leadership in other, less punitive, approaches were more successful in

7315-570: The abolition of the slave trade as equally important goals. At the suggestion of Wilberforce and Bishop Porteus , King George III was requested by the Archbishop of Canterbury to issue in 1787 A Proclamation for the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue , as a remedy for the rising tide of immorality. The proclamation commanded the prosecution of those guilty of "excessive drinking, blasphemy, profane swearing and cursing, lewdness, profanation of

7448-483: The abolition of the slave trade in Parliament, "provided that no person more proper could be found". The same spring, on 12 May 1787, the still hesitant Wilberforce held a conversation with William Pitt and the future Prime Minister William Grenville as they sat under a large oak tree on Pitt's estate in Kent. Under what came to be known as the "Wilberforce Oak" at Holwood House , Pitt challenged his friend to give notice of

7581-526: The beginning of the 19th century, efforts were being made in the English public schools to transform this mob football into an organised team sport. The earliest-known versions of football code rules were written at Eton College (1815) and Aldenham School (1825). Horse racing had been very popular since the years after the Restoration when Charles II was a frequent visitor to Newmarket Racecourse . In

7714-593: The champion fighter in Britain was also, in effect, the world champion. Britain's only potential rival was the United States, where organised boxing began c.  1800 . Boxing was in fact illegal but local authorities, who were often involved on the gambling side of the sport, would turn a blind eye. In any case, the huge crowds that attended championship bouts were almost impossible to police. Like cricket and horse racing , boxing attracted gamblers . The sport needed

7847-688: The charter. Speaking in favour of the Charter Act 1813 , he criticised the East India Company and their rule in India for its hypocrisy and racial prejudice, while also condemning aspects of Hinduism including the caste system , infanticide , polygamy and sati . Greatly concerned by what he perceived to be the degeneracy of British society, Wilberforce was active in matters of moral reform, lobbying against "the torrent of profaneness that every day makes more rapid advances", and considered this issue and

7980-405: The club drafted and published a revised version of the sport's rules. MCC had considerable influence throughout the Regency era and its ground, Lord's , became cricket's premier venue. There were in fact three Lord's grounds. The first, opened in 1787 when the club was formed, was on the site of Dorset Square in Marylebone , hence the name of the club. The lease was terminated in 1811 because of

8113-404: The conditions endured by the enslaved peoples, both at sea and on the plantations and returned to England and joined abolitionist movements. Wilberforce did not follow up on his meeting with Ramsay, but three years later, inspired by his new faith, Wilberforce became interested in humanitarian reform. In November 1786, he received a letter from Sir Charles Middleton that re-opened his interest in

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8246-407: The early winter of 1786–1787. In early 1787, Thomas Clarkson met with Wilberforce for the first time at Old Palace Yard and brought a copy of his essay on the subject. Clarkson visited Wilberforce weekly, bringing first-hand evidence he had obtained about the slave trade. The Quakers, already working for abolition, recognised the need for influence within Parliament, and urged Clarkson to secure

8379-411: The event of William's death before 24 May 1837, the young Victoria's 18th birthday. The Act made allowance for Adelaide having another child, either before or after William's death. If the latter scenario had arisen, Victoria would have become Queen only temporarily until the new monarch was born. Adelaide had no more children and, as it happened, William died on 20 June 1837, just four weeks after Victoria

8512-484: The first Grand National , but there are historical uncertainties about the three races between 1836 and 1838 so they are officially regarded as precursors to the Grand National. Some sources insist they were held on Old Racecourse Farm in nearby Maghull but this is impossible as that course closed in 1835. The first official Grand National was the 1839 race . Rowing and sailing had become popular pastimes among

8645-505: The fists only. A round ended when a fighter was grounded and the rules prohibited the hitting of a downed opponent. He was helped to his corner and then had thirty seconds in which to "step up to the mark", which was a line drawn for that purpose so that the fighters squared off less than a yard apart. The next round would then begin. A fighter who failed to step up and square off was declared the loser. Contests continued until one fighter could not step up. There were no weight divisions and so

8778-603: The franchise. In 1833, Wilberforce's health declined further and he suffered a severe attack of influenza from which he never fully recovered. He made a final anti-slavery speech in April 1833 at a public meeting in Maidstone , Kent. The following month, the Whig government introduced the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery , formally saluting Wilberforce in the process. On 26 July 1833, Wilberforce heard of government concessions that guaranteed

8911-447: The frequent government changes of 1781–1784, Wilberforce supported his friend Pitt in parliamentary debates. In autumn 1783, Pitt, Wilberforce and Edward Eliot travelled to France for a six-week holiday together. After a difficult start in Rheims , where their presence aroused police suspicion that they were English spies, they visited Paris, meeting Benjamin Franklin , General Lafayette , Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI , and joined

9044-597: The gallery. Pitt, already set on a political career, encouraged Wilberforce to join him in obtaining a parliamentary seat. In September 1780, at the age of 21 and while still a student, Wilberforce was elected Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull , spending over £8,000, as was the custom of the time, to ensure he received the necessary votes. Free from financial pressures, Wilberforce sat as an independent , resolving to be "no party man." Criticised at times for inconsistency, he supported both Tory and Whig governments according to his conscience, working closely with

9177-492: The glamour and gloss of Regency society provided sharp contrast to the Prince Regent's social circle. Poverty was addressed only marginally. The formation of the Regency after the retirement of George III saw the end of a more pious and reserved society, and gave birth of a more frivolous, ostentatious one. This change was influenced by the Regent himself, who was kept entirely removed from the machinations of politics and military exploits. This did nothing to channel his energies in

9310-412: The growing population of the area. To the south of the street is Paddington Recreation Ground . The street suffered heavily from German bombing during the Second World War , and was rebuilt in the postwar era with modernist buildings. Particularly notable is the South Kilburn estate. The Carlton Tavern pub was built in the 1920s by the Charrington Brewery . Demolished in 2015 shortly before it

9443-440: The history of these enlightened times, will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long a disgrace and dishonour to this country. William Wilberforce — speech before the House of Commons, 18 April 1791 Interrupted by a general election in June 1790, the committee finished hearing witnesses and in April 1791, with a closely reasoned four-hour speech, Wilberforce introduced the first parliamentary bill to abolish

9576-616: The introduction of a bill to ban British subjects from aiding or participating in the slave trade to the French colonies , was suggested by the maritime lawyer James Stephen. A bill was introduced and approved by the cabinet, and Wilberforce and other abolitionists maintained a self-imposed silence, so as not to draw any attention to the effect of the bill. The approach was successful and the Foreign Slave Trade Bill received royal assent on 23 May 1806. Wilberforce and Clarkson collected

9709-495: The investment provided by gambling, but there was a seamier side in that many fights were fixed. At one time, prizefighting was "anything goes" but the champion boxer Jack Broughton proposed a set of rules in 1743 that were observed throughout the Regency era until they were superseded by the London Prize Ring Rules in 1838. Broughton's rules were a reaction to "bar room brawling" as they restricted fighters to use of

9842-417: The large majority to seek the abolition of slavery itself, but Wilberforce made it clear that total emancipation was not the immediate goal. In his youth, William Wilberforce showed little interest in women, but when he was in his late thirties his friend Thomas Babington recommended 25-year-old Barbara Ann Spooner (1771–1847) as a potential bride. Wilberforce met her two days later on 15 April 1797, and

9975-546: The long-term, however. By the end of his life, British morals, manners, and sense of social responsibility had increased, paving the way for future changes in societal conventions and attitudes during the Victorian era. Wilberforce worked with the members of the African Institution to ensure the enforcement of the abolition of the slave trade and to promote abolitionist negotiations with other countries. In particular,

10108-512: The longer timespan is roughly the final third of the Georgian era (1714–1837), encompassing the last 25 years or so of George III's reign, including the official Regency, and the complete reigns of both George IV and his brother and successor William IV . It ends with the accession of Queen Victoria in June 1837 and is followed by the Victorian era (1837–1901). Although the Regency era is remembered as

10241-458: The major artists, musicians, novelists and poets of the Romantic movement were prominent Regency figures, such as Jane Austen , William Blake , Lord Byron , John Constable , John Keats , John Nash , Ann Radcliffe , Walter Scott , Mary Shelley , Percy Bysshe Shelley , J. M. W. Turner and William Wordsworth . George III (1738–1820) became King of Great Britain on 25 October 1760 when he

10374-428: The maritime trade with Baltic countries. He was twice elected mayor of Hull. Wilberforce was a small, sickly and delicate child with poor eyesight. In 1767, he began attending Hull Grammar School , which at the time was headed by Joseph Milner , who would become a lifelong friend. Wilberforce profited from the supportive atmosphere at the school, until his father died in 1768. With his mother struggling to cope,

10507-418: The more studious future Prime Minister William Pitt . Despite his lifestyle and lack of interest in studying, he managed to pass his examinations and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1781 and a Master of Arts degree in 1788. Wilberforce began to consider a political career while still at university and during the winter of 1779–1780, he and Pitt frequently watched House of Commons debates from

10640-463: The most common activities among the upper class was attending and hosting balls, house parties, and more. These often included dancing, food, and gossip. The food generally served included items such as white soup made with veal stock, almonds and cream, cold meats, salads, etc. Bare-knuckle boxing , also known as prizefighting , was a popular sport through the 18th and 19th centuries. The Regency era has been called "the peak of British boxing" because

10773-463: The national crisis included the Peterloo Massacre in 1819 and the various Corn Laws . The Whig government of Earl Grey passed the Great Reform Act in 1832. Essentially, England during the Regency era was a stratified society in which political power and influence lay in the hands of the landed class. Their fashionable locales were worlds apart from the slums in which the majority of people existed. The slum districts were known as rookeries ,

10906-520: The nine-year-old Wilberforce was sent to a prosperous uncle and aunt with houses in both St James's Place , London, and Wimbledon . He attended an "indifferent" boarding school in Putney for two years and spent his holidays in Wimbledon, where he grew extremely fond of his relatives. He became interested in evangelical Christianity due to his relatives' influence, especially that of his aunt Hannah, sister of

11039-440: The official regency for which it is named only spanned the years 1811 to 1820. King George III first suffered debilitating illness in the late 1780s, and relapsed into his final mental illness in 1810. By the Regency Act 1811 , his eldest son George, Prince of Wales , was appointed Prince Regent to discharge royal functions. When George III died in 1820, the Prince Regent succeeded him as George IV. In terms of periodisation ,

11172-571: The order of succession and Parliament again passed a Regency Act as contingency. The Minority of Heir to the Crown Act 1765 provided for either Queen Charlotte or Princess Augusta to act as regent if necessary. George III had a long episode of mental illness in the summer of 1788. Parliament proposed the Regency Bill 1789 which was passed by the House of Commons . Before the House of Lords could debate it,

11305-476: The party in power, and voting on specific measures according to their merits. Wilberforce attended Parliament regularly, but he also maintained a lively social life, becoming an habitué of gentlemen's gambling clubs such as Goostree's and Boodle's in Pall Mall, London . The writer and socialite Madame de Staël described him as the "wittiest man in England" and, according to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire ,

11438-665: The passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 . Wilberforce was convinced of the importance of religion, morality and education. He championed causes and campaigns such as the Society for the Suppression of Vice , British missionary work in India, the creation of a free colony in Sierra Leone , the foundation of the Church Mission Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals . He supported politically and socially repressive legislation. His critics thought that he

11571-554: The passage of the Act through Parliament was assured. He was buried in Westminster Abbey , close to his friend William Pitt the Younger . Wilberforce was born in Hull , in Yorkshire , England, on 24 August 1759. He was the only son of Robert Wilberforce (1728–1768), a wealthy merchant, and his wife, Elizabeth Bird (1730–1798). His grandfather, William (1690–1774), had made the family fortune in

11704-480: The passing of the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery. The following day he grew much weaker, and he died early on the morning of 29 July at his cousin's house in Cadogan Place , London. Wilberforce had left instructions that he be buried with his sister and daughter at St Mary's Church , Stoke Newington , just north of London. However, the leading members of both Houses of Parliament urged that he be honoured with

11837-560: The period, and Lord Frederick Beauclerk as the outstanding amateur player. The 1821 match ended prematurely after the Gentlemen team, well behind in the contest, conceded defeat. This had been billed as the "Coronation Match" because it celebrated the accession of the Prince Regent as King George IV and the outcome was described by the sports historian Sir Derek Birley as "a suitably murky affair". Football in Great Britain had long been

11970-535: The poor in Somerset and the Mendips , he provided financial and moral support as they faced opposition from landowners and Anglican clergy. From the late 1780s onward, Wilberforce campaigned for limited parliamentary reform, such as the abolition of rotten boroughs and the redistribution of Commons seats to growing towns and cities, though by 1832, he feared that such measures went too far. With others, Wilberforce founded

12103-471: The preparatory motion himself, and ordered a Privy Council investigation into the slave trade, followed by a House of Commons review. With the publication of the Privy Council report in April 1789 and following months of planning, Wilberforce commenced his parliamentary campaign. On 12 May 1789, he made his first major speech on the subject of abolition in the House of Commons, in which he reasoned that

12236-463: The project in money and time. On 2 April 1792, Wilberforce brought another bill calling for abolition of the slave trade. Henry Dundas , as Home Secretary , proposed a compromise solution of gradual abolition of the trade over several years. This was passed by 230 to 85 votes, but Wilberforce believed that it was little more than a clever ploy to ensure that total abolition would be delayed indefinitely. On 26 February 1793, another vote to abolish

12369-492: The realm. Wilberforce still hoped "to lay a foundation for some future measures for the emancipation of the poor slaves". Aware that the cause would need younger men to continue the work, in 1821 he asked MP Thomas Fowell Buxton to take over leadership of the campaign in the Commons. As the 1820s continued, Wilberforce increasingly became more of a figurehead for the abolitionist movement, although he continued to appear at anti-slavery meetings, welcoming visitors, and maintaining

12502-489: The recognition of their human nature, which, for a while was most shamefully denied. This is the first fruits of our efforts; let us persevere and our triumph will be complete. Never, never will we desist till we have wiped away this scandal from the Christian name, released ourselves from the load of guilt, under which we at present labour, and extinguished every trace of this bloody traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to

12635-503: The rest of his life visiting family members and friends. He continued his support for the anti-slavery cause, including attending and chairing meetings of the Anti-Slavery Society. Wilberforce approved of the 1830 election victory of the more progressive Whigs, though he was concerned about the implications of their Reform Bill which proposed the redistribution of parliamentary seats towards newer towns and cities and an extension of

12768-637: The revitalisation of the church and individual Christian observance would lead to a harmonious, moral society. He sought to elevate the status of religion in public and private life, making piety fashionable in both the upper- and middle-classes of society. To this end, in April 1797, Wilberforce published A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes of This Country Contrasted With Real Christianity , on which he had been working since 1793. This

12901-470: The rich and aristocratic. Publishers used these as a way of spreading gossip and scandal , often clearly hinting at identities. The novels were popular during the later years of the Regency era. During the Regency era and well into the succeeding Victorian era, society women were discouraged from exertion although many did take the opportunity to pursue activities such as dancing, riding and walking that were recreational rather than competitive. Depending on

13034-534: The right thing, and was reluctant to confront them when they did not. Following Pitt's death in January 1806, Wilberforce increased his collaboration with the Whigs, especially the abolitionists. He gave general support to the Grenville–Fox administration , which brought more abolitionists into the cabinet; Wilberforce and Charles Fox led the campaign in the House of Commons. A radical change of tactics, which involved

13167-479: The same year he began to publicly denounce slavery itself, though he did not demand immediate emancipation, believing incremental change to be more effective in achieving abolition. In 1820, after a period of poor health and with his eyesight failing, Wilberforce further limited public activities, although he became embroiled in unsuccessful mediation attempts between King George IV , and his estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick , who had sought her rights as queen of

13300-536: The slave trade and capable of sustaining a well-ordered society, trade and cultivation. Inspired in part by the utopian vision of Granville Sharp , they became involved in the establishment in 1792 of a free colony in Sierra Leone with black settlers from Britain, Nova Scotia and Jamaica, as well as native Africans and some whites. They formed the Sierra Leone Company , with Wilberforce subscribing liberally to

13433-428: The slave trade was narrowly defeated by eight votes. The outbreak of war with France the same month prevented further consideration of the issue, as politicians concentrated on the national crisis and the threat of invasion. The same year, and again in 1794, Wilberforce unsuccessfully brought before Parliament a bill to outlaw British ships from supplying enslaved people to foreign colonies. He voiced his concern about

13566-423: The slave trade, but did not refer to the abolition of slavery itself, instead dwelling on the potential for reproduction in the existing slave population should the trade be abolished. With several parliamentarians signalling support for the bill, the opponents of abolition delayed the vote by proposing that the House of Commons hear its own evidence; Wilberforce, in a decision that has been criticised for prolonging

13699-491: The slave trade, reluctantly agreed. The hearings were not completed by the end of the parliamentary session and were deferred until the following year. In the meantime, Wilberforce and Clarkson tried unsuccessfully to take advantage of the egalitarian atmosphere of the French Revolution to press for France's abolition of the trade. In January 1790, Wilberforce succeeded in speeding up the hearings by gaining approval for

13832-488: The slave trade, supplying French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese and British colonies, and in peak years carried forty thousand enslaved men, women and children across the Atlantic in the horrific conditions of the middle passage . Of the estimated 11 million Africans transported into slavery, about 1.4 million died during the voyage. The British campaign to abolish the slave trade is generally considered to have begun in

13965-563: The slave trade. After two evenings of debate, the bill was easily defeated by 163 votes to 88, as the political climate having swung in a conservative direction after the French Revolution and in reaction to an increase in radicalism and to slave revolts in the French West Indies . A protracted parliamentary campaign to abolish slavery continued, and Wilberforce remained committed to this cause despite frustration and hostility. He

14098-466: The slave trade. Middleton suggested that Wilberforce bring forward the abolition of the slave trade in Parliament. Wilberforce responded that he "felt the great importance of the subject, and thought himself unequal to the task allotted to him, but yet would not positively decline it". He began to read widely on the subject and met with a group of abolitionists called the Testonites at Middleton's home in

14231-407: The social calendar. Lord's staged the first Gentlemen v Players match in 1806. This fixture provides another illustration of the class divide in Regency society as it matched a team of well-to-do amateurs (Gentlemen) against a team of working-class professionals (Players). The first match featured Billy Beldham and William Lambert , who have been recognised as the outstanding professionals of

14364-576: The suspension of habeas corpus in 1795 and his votes for Pitt's "Gagging Bills", which banned meetings of more than 50 people, allowing speakers to be arrested and imposing harsh penalties on those who attacked the constitution. Wilberforce was opposed to giving workers' rights to organise into unions, in 1799 speaking in favour of the Combination Act , which suppressed trade union activity throughout Britain, and calling unions "a general disease in our society". He also opposed an enquiry into

14497-525: The time included a husband's murder. The House of Commons passed both bills, but they were defeated in the House of Lords . The British initially became involved in the slave trade during the 16th century. By 1783, the triangular route that took British-made goods to Africa to buy slaves, transported the enslaved to the West Indies, and then brought slave-grown products such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton to Britain, represented about 80 percent of Great Britain's foreign income. British ships dominated

14630-744: The time, religious enthusiasm was generally regarded as a social transgression and was stigmatised in polite society. Evangelicals in the upper classes were exposed to contempt and ridicule, and Wilberforce's conversion led him to question whether he should remain in public life. He sought guidance from John Newton , a leading evangelical Anglican clergyman of the day and Rector of St Mary Woolnoth . Both counselled him to remain in politics, and he resolved to do so "with increased diligence and conscientiousness". His political views were informed by his faith and by his desire to promote Christianity and Christian ethics in private and public life. His views were often deeply conservative, opposed to radical changes in

14763-454: The trade was morally reprehensible and an issue of natural justice . Drawing on Thomas Clarkson's mass of evidence, he described in detail the appalling conditions in which enslaved people travelled from Africa in the middle passage and argued that abolishing the trade would also bring an improvement to the conditions of existing slaves in the West Indies . He moved twelve resolutions condemning

14896-640: The vast majority of people, street performers provided their sole access to music of any kind. However, the upper class enjoyed music such as Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 30, Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Sonata in F major, MWV Q 7, and much more. Especially popular composers of the time included Beethoven, Rossini, Liszt, and Mendelssohn. The most prominent landscape painters were John Constable and J. M. W. Turner . Notable portrait painters include Thomas Lawrence and Martin Archer Shee , both Presidents of

15029-423: The war and urged Pitt and his government to make greater efforts to end hostilities. Growing more alarmed, on 31 December 1794, Wilberforce moved that the government seek a peaceful resolution with France, a stance that created a temporary breach in his long friendship with Pitt. Abolition continued to be associated in the public consciousness with the French Revolution and with British radical groups, resulting in

15162-565: The wealthier citizens. The Boat Race , a rowing event between the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club , was first held in 1829 at the instigation of Charles Merivale and Charles Wordsworth , who were students at Cambridge and Oxford, respectively. Wordsworth was a nephew of William Wordsworth . The first race was at Henley-on-Thames and the contest later became an annual event on

15295-428: The wealthy merchant John Thornton , a philanthropist and a supporter of the leading Methodist preacher George Whitefield . Wilberforce's staunchly Church of England mother and grandfather, alarmed at these nonconformist influences and at his leanings towards evangelicalism, brought the 12-year-old boy back to Hull in 1771. Wilberforce was heartbroken at being separated from his aunt and uncle. His family opposed

15428-511: The wider social and cultural aspects of the Regency era, characterised by the distinctive fashions , architecture and style of the period. The first 20 years to 1815 were overshadowed by the Napoleonic Wars . Throughout the whole period, the Industrial Revolution gathered pace and achieved significant progress by the coming of the railways and the growth of the factory system . The Regency era overlapped with Romanticism and many of

15561-544: The world's first animal welfare organisation, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (later the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ). He was also opposed to duelling , which he described as the "disgrace of a Christian society" and was appalled when his friend Pitt engaged in a duel with George Tierney in 1798, particularly as it occurred on a Sunday, the Christian day of rest. Wilberforce

15694-417: Was 18. Officially, the Regency began on 5 February 1811 and ended on 29 January 1820 but the "Regency era", as such, is generally perceived to have been much longer. The term is commonly, though loosely, applied to the period from c.  1795 until the accession of Queen Victoria on 20 June 1837. The Regency Era is a sub-period of the longer Georgian era (1714–1837), both of which were followed by

15827-503: Was 22 years old, succeeding his grandfather George II . George III had himself been the subject of legislation to provide for a regency when Parliament passed the Minority of Successor to Crown Act 1751 following the death of his father Frederick, Prince of Wales , on 31 March 1751. George became heir apparent at the age of 12 and he would have succeeded as a minor if his grandfather had died before 4 June 1756, George's 18th birthday. As

15960-410: Was a British politician, philanthropist , and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade . A native of Kingston upon Hull , Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, and became an independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Yorkshire (1784–1812). In 1785, he underwent a conversion experience and became an Evangelical Anglican, which resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and

16093-449: Was about to be listed , it was rebuilt in its original form and reopened in 2021. Unlike Carlton Vale, Carlton Hill retains many of its original buildings a number of which are now listed . Notable residents have included the textile designer C.F.A. Voysey who is now commemorated with a blue plaque and the sculptor Arthur Fleischmann whose house features a City of Westminster plaque. The former Blenheim Arms public house , built in

16226-439: Was an exposition of New Testament doctrine and teachings and a call for a revival of Christianity, as a response to the moral decline of the nation, illustrating his own testimony and the views which inspired him. The book was influential and a best-seller; 7,500 copies were sold within six months, and it was translated into several languages. Wilberforce fostered and supported missionary activity in Britain and abroad, and

16359-603: Was an indulgent and adoring father who revelled in his time at home and at play with his children. Wilberforce was highly conservative on many political and social issues. He advocated change in society through Christianity and improvement in morals, education and religion, fearing and opposing radical causes and revolution. The radical writer William Cobbett was among those who attacked what they saw as Wilberforce's hypocrisy in campaigning for better working conditions for enslaved people while British workers lived in terrible conditions at home. Critics noted Wilberforce's support of

16492-475: Was generous with his time and money, believing that those with wealth had a duty to give a significant portion of their income to the needy. Yearly, he gave away thousands of pounds, much of it to clergymen to distribute in their parishes. He paid off the debts of others, supported education and missions , and in a year of food shortages, gave to charity more than his own yearly income. He was exceptionally hospitable, and could not bear to sack any of his servants. As

16625-491: Was ignoring injustices at home while campaigning for the enslaved abroad. In later years, Wilberforce supported the campaign for the complete abolition of slavery and continued his involvement after 1826, when he resigned from Parliament because of his failing health. That campaign led to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 , which abolished slavery in most of the British Empire . Wilberforce died just three days after hearing that

16758-689: Was immediately smitten; following an eight-day whirlwind romance, he proposed. Despite the urgings of friends to slow down, the couple married at the Church of St Swithin in Bath, Somerset, on 30 May 1797. They were devoted to each other, and Barbara was very attentive and supportive to Wilberforce in his increasing ill health, though she showed little interest in his political activities. They had six children in fewer than ten years: William (born 1798), Barbara (born 1799), Elizabeth (born 1801), Robert (born 1802), Samuel (born 1805) and Henry (born 1807). Wilberforce

16891-720: Was involved with other members of the Clapham Sect in various evangelical and charitable organisations. He was a founding member of the Church Missionary Society (since renamed the Church Mission Society) and an early vice-president of the London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews (later the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People). Horrified by the lack of Christian evangelism in India, Wilberforce used

17024-402: Was mass unemployment and, in 1816 , an exceptionally bad harvest . In addition, the country underwent a population boom and the combination of these factors resulted in rampant poverty . Apart from the national unity government led by William Grenville from February 1806 to March 1807, all governments from December 1783 to November 1830 were formed and led by Tories . Their responses to

17157-431: Was not ministerial material. When Parliament was dissolved in the spring of 1784, Wilberforce decided to stand as a candidate for the county of Yorkshire in the 1784 general election . On 6 April, he was returned as MP for Yorkshire at the age of twenty-four. In October 1784, Wilberforce embarked upon a tour of Europe with his mother, sister and Isaac Milner , the younger brother of his former headmaster. They visited

17290-645: Was not opened to the public until 1847, after it became necessary to raise funds. Jane Austen , Lord Byron , Walter Scott and others were the most prominent writers of the Regency era. However, the time period also produced some of the 19th century's most prolific writers such as Charles Dickens , Charlotte Brontë , and Benjamin Disraeli . Especially popular forms of literature at this time were novels and poetry, such as Lord Byron's The Regent's Bomb. Wealthy households staged their own music events by relying on family members who could sing or play an instrument. For

17423-603: Was over a cross-country route in Bedfordshire on 8 March 1830. Aintree Racecourse held its first meeting on 7 July 1829. On 29 February 1836, a race called the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase was held. One of its organisers was Captain Martin Becher who rode The Duke to victory. The infamous sixth fence at Aintree is called Becher's Brook . The 1836 race, which became an annual event, is recognised by some as

17556-523: Was supported by fellow members of the Clapham Sect , among whom was his best friend and cousin Henry Thornton . Wilberforce accepted an invitation to share a house with Henry Thornton in 1792, moving into his own home after Thornton's marriage in 1796. Wilberforce, the Clapham Sect and others were anxious to demonstrate that Africans, and particularly freed slaves, had human and economic abilities beyond

17689-447: Was the father and son partnership of James and Decimus Burton who had the majority of input to the project. Landscaping continued through the 1820s and Regent's Park was finally opened to the public in 1841. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) was founded in 1826 by Sir Stamford Raffles and Sir Humphry Davy . They obtained land alongside the route of the Regent's Canal through the northern perimeter of Regent's Park, between

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