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William Wilberforce
Following his 'William Pitt the Younger', Hague turns his attentions to William Wilberforce. He portrays a man full of contradictions: conservative in many ways, but a tireless campaigner for change on the subject of slavery."
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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712 people want to read
About the author
William Hague
79 books21 followersWilliam Jefferson Hague is a British Conservative politician. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001 and is currently the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State under David Cameron. In parliament, he represents the constituency of Richmond (Yorks), having done so since 1989.
Educated at a local comprehensive school, then the University of Oxford and INSEAD, Hague was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1989. Hague rose through the ranks of John Major's government and entered the Cabinet in 1995 as the Secretary of State for Wales. Following the Conservatives' defeat in the 1997 general election, he was elected as leader of the Conservative Party. He resigned as party leader after the 2001 general election following a landslide defeat to the Labour Party.
On the backbenches, Hague began a career as an author, writing biographies of William Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce. He also held several directorships, and worked as a consultant and public speaker. After David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 2005, Hague returned to front line politics as shadow foreign secretary. And later in 2010, upon Cameron becoming the Prime Minister, Hague took on the roles of First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary.
Educated at a local comprehensive school, then the University of Oxford and INSEAD, Hague was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1989. Hague rose through the ranks of John Major's government and entered the Cabinet in 1995 as the Secretary of State for Wales. Following the Conservatives' defeat in the 1997 general election, he was elected as leader of the Conservative Party. He resigned as party leader after the 2001 general election following a landslide defeat to the Labour Party.
On the backbenches, Hague began a career as an author, writing biographies of William Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce. He also held several directorships, and worked as a consultant and public speaker. After David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 2005, Hague returned to front line politics as shadow foreign secretary. And later in 2010, upon Cameron becoming the Prime Minister, Hague took on the roles of First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary.
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May 20, 2015
"In the 1740s British ships transported no fewer than 200,000 African slaves, and the triangular trade this facilitated was fuelling the rapid growth of domestic manufacturing. Some 85% of English textile exports went to Africa at this stage, while the demand for slaving ships in Liverpool made it a world leader in ship building. It is no wonder that it could be written in 1772 that the African slave trade was 'the foundation of our commerce, the support of our colonies, the life of our navigation, and the first cause of our industry and riches'
What would you have thought of Wilberforce if you had met him? I think that like nearly everyone you would have liked him. You would have found him warm, affable, clever and amusing. Chatty yet attentive..... and clearly fond of children. Highly ethical and deeply religious - yet able to mix with anyone and everyone. Passionate about all sorts of humanitarian causes, plus always open to helping individuals who were in trouble. A plain speaker, never failing to tell people what he really thought - but always gently and with tact. His honesty won him many admirers. He was also charismatic - winning some very difficult elections over the years. As he aged his health was poorly - he had to wear a brace, supporting his back and arms, and his eyesight was very bad, but he never let this deter him in the slightest in his work against the slave trade, or in supporting other causes.
A burning light in his life was his Evangelical Christianity. This contrasted strongly with the lackadaisical religious practises found in large tracts of England at the time. "The established churches, whether in Rome or Canterbury, were too politically constrained and philosophically complacent to mount a serious challenge to such a widely accepted institution as slavery." Not so the Evangelicals, several of whom made life-long commitments to ending it, and were unrelenting in their support of Wilberforce over the years. Of course there were other people too who supported the cause - people like William Pitt - one of our most famous and highly lauded prime ministers, who was also a great friend of Wilberforce's, but it was the tireless work of the Evangelicals that really made the difference.
It was to be a long battle, and there were several factors which made it blow hot and cold as an issue. To start with the spread of Enlightenment ideas in the eighteenth century gave many people an anti-slavery mindset, and at first people were quite open to Wilberforce's ideas. Then along came the French Revolution in the 1790s; it was bloody and brutal, and the French monarchy was on its knees. There was also a slave rebellion in Saint-Domingue in 1791. This was the largest French colony in the West Indies. It was the bloodiest and most massive slave revolt ever seen. Then France declared war on Britain in 1793. This was to herald nearly 25 years of 'almost continuous warfare, in the greatest conflict Europe had ever witnessed.' Everyone became terrified at the thought of rebellion, and hostile towards liberalizing or radical measures. They just wanted to batten down the hatches.
But as time passed the people of Britain grew more amenable to the idea of trying to end the slave trade. Wilberforce was always careful to introduce the idea of a gradual stopping of the slave trade, and he stressed that he was talking about stopping the 'trade' in slaves. Not the phenomenon of slavery itself.. Later historians would be split into those who criticized the fact his attacks were only on the trade , and others who felt it could not have been otherwise. There were too many vested interests, and his opponents were too vocal, for it all to be tackled at once. Wilberforce and his colleagues were hoping that by ending the trade they would apply a tourniquet that would stop the practice itself, but this was not to be. Rather it was the other way round. "Slavery didn't end with the ending of the slave trade ... Rather in all its illegal and multinational forms it could only finally be eradicated once slavery too had been abolished. In the US, only the Civil War and the defeat of the Southern states, leading to the end of slavery, finally extinguished the illicit slave trade."
Nevertheless, due to the work of Wilberforce and his colleagues, the slave trade was abolished in Britain in 1807, and it was a major achievement. British slave traders turned to importing palm oil instead (the industrial revolution meant there was a huge demand for it)...and gum, hides and beeswax.
Spain and Portugal were still trading in slaves, and France would have been too, had not its war with Britain rendered the high seas too dangerous. America too was trading in home bred slaves.....so Wilberforce's campaigning continued. Several countries half-heartedly promised to phase out the trade, but it was only in Britain that this was done with any vehemence.
Ending of the slave trade:
Britain 1807
Cuba 1870
Portugal 1875
Brazil 1888
Wilberforce died in 1833, but not before hearing that The Abolition of Slavery Bill had been passed through parliament, requiring the end of slavery itself throughout the whole of the British Empire. Twenty million pounds was paid out to slave owners in compensation.
I found this book absolutely gripping. I think Hague writes incredibly well. I learnt about the unspeakable horrors of slavery - both regarding shipping conditions and treatment at destinations. I learnt about 18th century British politics, which was utterly fascinating, and I learnt a bit about the formation of Sierra Leone, which interests me deeply. I also learnt about the life of an incredible man. Highly recommended.
Some notes for myself.....mostly just extracts from the book (I honestly don't think anyone else is going to want to read this.)
What would you have thought of Wilberforce if you had met him? I think that like nearly everyone you would have liked him. You would have found him warm, affable, clever and amusing. Chatty yet attentive..... and clearly fond of children. Highly ethical and deeply religious - yet able to mix with anyone and everyone. Passionate about all sorts of humanitarian causes, plus always open to helping individuals who were in trouble. A plain speaker, never failing to tell people what he really thought - but always gently and with tact. His honesty won him many admirers. He was also charismatic - winning some very difficult elections over the years. As he aged his health was poorly - he had to wear a brace, supporting his back and arms, and his eyesight was very bad, but he never let this deter him in the slightest in his work against the slave trade, or in supporting other causes.
A burning light in his life was his Evangelical Christianity. This contrasted strongly with the lackadaisical religious practises found in large tracts of England at the time. "The established churches, whether in Rome or Canterbury, were too politically constrained and philosophically complacent to mount a serious challenge to such a widely accepted institution as slavery." Not so the Evangelicals, several of whom made life-long commitments to ending it, and were unrelenting in their support of Wilberforce over the years. Of course there were other people too who supported the cause - people like William Pitt - one of our most famous and highly lauded prime ministers, who was also a great friend of Wilberforce's, but it was the tireless work of the Evangelicals that really made the difference.
It was to be a long battle, and there were several factors which made it blow hot and cold as an issue. To start with the spread of Enlightenment ideas in the eighteenth century gave many people an anti-slavery mindset, and at first people were quite open to Wilberforce's ideas. Then along came the French Revolution in the 1790s; it was bloody and brutal, and the French monarchy was on its knees. There was also a slave rebellion in Saint-Domingue in 1791. This was the largest French colony in the West Indies. It was the bloodiest and most massive slave revolt ever seen. Then France declared war on Britain in 1793. This was to herald nearly 25 years of 'almost continuous warfare, in the greatest conflict Europe had ever witnessed.' Everyone became terrified at the thought of rebellion, and hostile towards liberalizing or radical measures. They just wanted to batten down the hatches.
But as time passed the people of Britain grew more amenable to the idea of trying to end the slave trade. Wilberforce was always careful to introduce the idea of a gradual stopping of the slave trade, and he stressed that he was talking about stopping the 'trade' in slaves. Not the phenomenon of slavery itself.. Later historians would be split into those who criticized the fact his attacks were only on the trade , and others who felt it could not have been otherwise. There were too many vested interests, and his opponents were too vocal, for it all to be tackled at once. Wilberforce and his colleagues were hoping that by ending the trade they would apply a tourniquet that would stop the practice itself, but this was not to be. Rather it was the other way round. "Slavery didn't end with the ending of the slave trade ... Rather in all its illegal and multinational forms it could only finally be eradicated once slavery too had been abolished. In the US, only the Civil War and the defeat of the Southern states, leading to the end of slavery, finally extinguished the illicit slave trade."
Nevertheless, due to the work of Wilberforce and his colleagues, the slave trade was abolished in Britain in 1807, and it was a major achievement. British slave traders turned to importing palm oil instead (the industrial revolution meant there was a huge demand for it)...and gum, hides and beeswax.
Spain and Portugal were still trading in slaves, and France would have been too, had not its war with Britain rendered the high seas too dangerous. America too was trading in home bred slaves.....so Wilberforce's campaigning continued. Several countries half-heartedly promised to phase out the trade, but it was only in Britain that this was done with any vehemence.
Ending of the slave trade:
Britain 1807
Cuba 1870
Portugal 1875
Brazil 1888
Wilberforce died in 1833, but not before hearing that The Abolition of Slavery Bill had been passed through parliament, requiring the end of slavery itself throughout the whole of the British Empire. Twenty million pounds was paid out to slave owners in compensation.
I found this book absolutely gripping. I think Hague writes incredibly well. I learnt about the unspeakable horrors of slavery - both regarding shipping conditions and treatment at destinations. I learnt about 18th century British politics, which was utterly fascinating, and I learnt a bit about the formation of Sierra Leone, which interests me deeply. I also learnt about the life of an incredible man. Highly recommended.
Some notes for myself.....mostly just extracts from the book (I honestly don't think anyone else is going to want to read this.)
January 1, 2017
William Hague's first effort as an historian was a biography of William Pitt, so it should come as no surprise than his next outing concerns Pitt's lifelong friend, William Wilberforce. And there is no sophomore slump here - this is an excellent biography, worthy of its subject.
William Wilberforce has gone down in history as one of the greatest of Britain's parliamentarians, a feat all the more remarkable when one considers that he never in his life held high ministerial office and was to the end of his days an Independent, beholden to no party. He was hailed as one of the great orators of his time, compared to Demosthenes by no less than Edmund Burke himself, and served as an MP for 45 years.
But what Wilberforce is most known for is his role as the man who spearheaded the campaign for the abolition of slavery, tirelessly year on year debating, arguing, campaigning, agitating, petitioning, bringing motion after motion in the House of Commons. He was always a proponent of gradual abolition, believing that if the abolitionists pushed too hard too fast they would damage their own cause (something Wilberforce received criticism for, both at the time and in the years since) and he targeted first the slave trade alone - but these things generate a momentum of their own. Wilberforce in his later years may have retired from the fight, but the fight continued, inspired by his example and leadership. One finishes this book grateful above all else that Wilberforce lived to see the final death knell of slavery - just three days before his death he received the news that the Abolition of Slavery Bill had secured its passage through the Commons.
Perhaps abolition could have been achieved without Wilberforce, perhaps not. But it is a surprising quirk of history how often the right man appears at the right time, summoned into being by a conjunction of events that calls for just that personality, just that temperament, just that set of skills. Cometh the hour, cometh the man...
William Wilberforce has gone down in history as one of the greatest of Britain's parliamentarians, a feat all the more remarkable when one considers that he never in his life held high ministerial office and was to the end of his days an Independent, beholden to no party. He was hailed as one of the great orators of his time, compared to Demosthenes by no less than Edmund Burke himself, and served as an MP for 45 years.
But what Wilberforce is most known for is his role as the man who spearheaded the campaign for the abolition of slavery, tirelessly year on year debating, arguing, campaigning, agitating, petitioning, bringing motion after motion in the House of Commons. He was always a proponent of gradual abolition, believing that if the abolitionists pushed too hard too fast they would damage their own cause (something Wilberforce received criticism for, both at the time and in the years since) and he targeted first the slave trade alone - but these things generate a momentum of their own. Wilberforce in his later years may have retired from the fight, but the fight continued, inspired by his example and leadership. One finishes this book grateful above all else that Wilberforce lived to see the final death knell of slavery - just three days before his death he received the news that the Abolition of Slavery Bill had secured its passage through the Commons.
Perhaps abolition could have been achieved without Wilberforce, perhaps not. But it is a surprising quirk of history how often the right man appears at the right time, summoned into being by a conjunction of events that calls for just that personality, just that temperament, just that set of skills. Cometh the hour, cometh the man...
December 17, 2008
There is something false about history and biography. History seems so inevitable when looking back with hindsight that the viewer never sees the forks in the road where it might have turned differently. Biography can be nothing more than the resume of a dead person, his accomplishments laid out like a laundry list. William Hague may graze the edges of such mistakes, but sets a true course in his biography of William Wilberforce, an independent member of the House of Commons who was instrumental in outlawing the slave trade in the British Empire, laying the groundwork for the abolition of slavery itself, decades before it happened in the U.S.
What took a civil war to accomplish in America was done in more civil fashion in Britain. Animated by sincere Christian belief, Wilberforce musters political allies and the mass media of the day (petitions, pamphlets, newspapers and books) to change public opinion in order to change law. Starting in the 1780s, Wilberforce must persist in the face of repeated failure to get his anti-slave trade bill through Parliament with enough votes in Commons to convince the House of Lords to go along.
This was no easy challenge, as the vested commercial interests of the day were loath to give up a lucrative trade. Slavers could lose half their cargo and still turn a profit. The cheap labor, worked to death in the Caribbean, enabled sugar to become the leading cash crop of its day, enriching the planters and the slave ship owners alike. Gone unseen was the human cost, as Africans by the tens of thousands were kidnapped, stowed in tight spaces and transported across the Atlantic to face hopeless lives of hard labor and certain death. As seen through the prism of our present-day sensibility, the slave trade was slow-motion genocide. To the people of the day running the trade, it was good money.
Hague avoids the pitfalls of hagiography and inevitability. He shows Wilberforce embracing Christianity, but struggling to put belief into action. Banning the slave trade becomes his cause, as the African slaves are people to him, while profits to others. The politics and practices of Parliament provide Wilberforce the tools to accomplish the greater good, but was also thick with the traps that thwart it. Here Hague uses his knowledge of Parliament's history as well as his previous experience as an MP, and later opposition leader, to explain how the House of Commons worked in Wilberforce's day. Political parties were only then beginning to take shape. The House of Commons was a collection of strong personalities surrounded by passionate followers, a gathering of factions that a prime minister had to whip into a government. Long speeches brought facts into play in a day when there was no CNN to break the news instantly to a large, well-informed public. Debate mattered in Commons, swaying votes unchecked by party discipline.
Looking back, the abolition of the slave trade, and later slavery itself, seemed inevitable. But Hague cautions the reader that such a thing was not readily apparent when Wilberforce undertook his calling. It took 20 years of repeated political failure in Parliament before the slave trade was abolished. Hague explains the intricate ballet of parliamentary tactics that made it so, also showing Wilberforce's knowledge of when to act, and when to stay silent, to greatest effect. Here Hague shines. His prose is neither elegant nor boring, but imparts knowledge without speaking down to the reader.
American readers should also note Wilberforce's insatiable quest for knowledge that traveled alongside his religious beliefs. In U.S. politics, there are too many on the religious right who are disdainful of learning and scorn the well-informed. Wilberforce was "conservative" for his time, seeking gradual change for the greater good rather than revolution, beliefs grounded in worldly knowledge as well as Christian faith.
Politics is the art of the possible. Virtue seeks the attainment of impossible good. Wilberforce had to use politics to do good as his faith showed him. He never sought a title. He never served in anyone's cabinet. As Hague writes, "He [Wilberforce] showed how a political career could be conducted differently, pursuing long-term objectives deeply rooted in certain principles, strengthened in his indifference to holding power by his understanding of its transitory nature. As a result, he defied the axiom that political careers necessarily end in failure, going to his grave fulfilled in the knowledge of what he had helped to do, while those politicians to whom power alone is important decline in their old age into bitterness and despair."
Hague deserves four stars for his work. He shows Wilberforce in his world, explaining how the anti-slavery issue evolved, and how he used politics to turn belief into law. Hague strays from the narrative at times, when he explains the minutiae of Wilberforce's life away from Parliament. But he finds his stride again when focusing on Wilberforce's quest to ban the slave trade, showing the saint getting his hands dirty in the work of his life.
Perhaps we should be grateful that Hague did not succeed as leader of the Conservative Party in ousting Labor prime minister Tony Blair. Turned out of leadership, Hague had the time to pen this book, along with its companion, a biography of William Pitt the younger.
What took a civil war to accomplish in America was done in more civil fashion in Britain. Animated by sincere Christian belief, Wilberforce musters political allies and the mass media of the day (petitions, pamphlets, newspapers and books) to change public opinion in order to change law. Starting in the 1780s, Wilberforce must persist in the face of repeated failure to get his anti-slave trade bill through Parliament with enough votes in Commons to convince the House of Lords to go along.
This was no easy challenge, as the vested commercial interests of the day were loath to give up a lucrative trade. Slavers could lose half their cargo and still turn a profit. The cheap labor, worked to death in the Caribbean, enabled sugar to become the leading cash crop of its day, enriching the planters and the slave ship owners alike. Gone unseen was the human cost, as Africans by the tens of thousands were kidnapped, stowed in tight spaces and transported across the Atlantic to face hopeless lives of hard labor and certain death. As seen through the prism of our present-day sensibility, the slave trade was slow-motion genocide. To the people of the day running the trade, it was good money.
Hague avoids the pitfalls of hagiography and inevitability. He shows Wilberforce embracing Christianity, but struggling to put belief into action. Banning the slave trade becomes his cause, as the African slaves are people to him, while profits to others. The politics and practices of Parliament provide Wilberforce the tools to accomplish the greater good, but was also thick with the traps that thwart it. Here Hague uses his knowledge of Parliament's history as well as his previous experience as an MP, and later opposition leader, to explain how the House of Commons worked in Wilberforce's day. Political parties were only then beginning to take shape. The House of Commons was a collection of strong personalities surrounded by passionate followers, a gathering of factions that a prime minister had to whip into a government. Long speeches brought facts into play in a day when there was no CNN to break the news instantly to a large, well-informed public. Debate mattered in Commons, swaying votes unchecked by party discipline.
Looking back, the abolition of the slave trade, and later slavery itself, seemed inevitable. But Hague cautions the reader that such a thing was not readily apparent when Wilberforce undertook his calling. It took 20 years of repeated political failure in Parliament before the slave trade was abolished. Hague explains the intricate ballet of parliamentary tactics that made it so, also showing Wilberforce's knowledge of when to act, and when to stay silent, to greatest effect. Here Hague shines. His prose is neither elegant nor boring, but imparts knowledge without speaking down to the reader.
American readers should also note Wilberforce's insatiable quest for knowledge that traveled alongside his religious beliefs. In U.S. politics, there are too many on the religious right who are disdainful of learning and scorn the well-informed. Wilberforce was "conservative" for his time, seeking gradual change for the greater good rather than revolution, beliefs grounded in worldly knowledge as well as Christian faith.
Politics is the art of the possible. Virtue seeks the attainment of impossible good. Wilberforce had to use politics to do good as his faith showed him. He never sought a title. He never served in anyone's cabinet. As Hague writes, "He [Wilberforce] showed how a political career could be conducted differently, pursuing long-term objectives deeply rooted in certain principles, strengthened in his indifference to holding power by his understanding of its transitory nature. As a result, he defied the axiom that political careers necessarily end in failure, going to his grave fulfilled in the knowledge of what he had helped to do, while those politicians to whom power alone is important decline in their old age into bitterness and despair."
Hague deserves four stars for his work. He shows Wilberforce in his world, explaining how the anti-slavery issue evolved, and how he used politics to turn belief into law. Hague strays from the narrative at times, when he explains the minutiae of Wilberforce's life away from Parliament. But he finds his stride again when focusing on Wilberforce's quest to ban the slave trade, showing the saint getting his hands dirty in the work of his life.
Perhaps we should be grateful that Hague did not succeed as leader of the Conservative Party in ousting Labor prime minister Tony Blair. Turned out of leadership, Hague had the time to pen this book, along with its companion, a biography of William Pitt the younger.
March 7, 2010
Usually, when I read a biography, I feel an immense sadness when I reach the end. I'm sometimes disappointed by how the persons life turned out or wish they had done more. But this book was different. Seeing all of the great things William Wilberforce had accomplished and the man he had been, I could only feel I sweet sense of gratitude for his achievements. His story is an empowering one, teaching me that I should never give in when I'm fighting for something good. William Hague's style is very fluid. He gives all of the necessary background information, but never too much. I hated to put the book down, but it's too long and thought-provoking to be read in one sitting. I savored every minute of reading.
June 12, 2009
"Liberty is the right of every human creature, as soon as he breathes the vital air. And no human law can deprive him of that right..."(pg.131)
This is probably the best biography I have ever read (but I really haven't read that many yet). I think I liked this one so much for two reasons. Hague does a great job making it interesting without dwelling too much on the minutiae and I was very interested in this man and learning more about his life.
At a time when slavery was generally accepted and looked at as necessary for economic prosperity, Wilberforce had the patience and dedication to attack the slave trade first and then slavery itself. It took 26 years and incessant efforts for the British slave trade to become illegal. Another 25 years later and about 3 days before his death, at the age of 73, the Abolition of Slavery Bill was passed in the House of Commons and about 20 days after his death it passed again in the House of the Lords!!!
As a young man Wilberforce converted to Christianity and took it very seriously for the rest of his life. At first he thought it would be best to retire from Parliament and public life. Luckily he came to realize, as a good friend pointed out, that "...the principles as well as the practice of Christianity are simple, and lead not to meditation only but to ACTION." He took his new-found faith and fought for multiple causes, chiefly the abolition of slavery.
Now I'm going to go borrow 'Amazing Grace' from the library again.
This is probably the best biography I have ever read (but I really haven't read that many yet). I think I liked this one so much for two reasons. Hague does a great job making it interesting without dwelling too much on the minutiae and I was very interested in this man and learning more about his life.
At a time when slavery was generally accepted and looked at as necessary for economic prosperity, Wilberforce had the patience and dedication to attack the slave trade first and then slavery itself. It took 26 years and incessant efforts for the British slave trade to become illegal. Another 25 years later and about 3 days before his death, at the age of 73, the Abolition of Slavery Bill was passed in the House of Commons and about 20 days after his death it passed again in the House of the Lords!!!
As a young man Wilberforce converted to Christianity and took it very seriously for the rest of his life. At first he thought it would be best to retire from Parliament and public life. Luckily he came to realize, as a good friend pointed out, that "...the principles as well as the practice of Christianity are simple, and lead not to meditation only but to ACTION." He took his new-found faith and fought for multiple causes, chiefly the abolition of slavery.
Now I'm going to go borrow 'Amazing Grace' from the library again.
February 15, 2025
This is proof that an independent MP can change the world.
October 30, 2025
Faith and Reform with Needed Perseverance
Having read and loved William Hague’s first book William Pitt the Younger, I always wanted to tackle his William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-Slave Trade Campaigner; and why not? They are by the same author, in the same period, (one of my favourites in history), both were great men with great ideals. William Wilberforce’s cause and conviction was one of the noblest in history and yet, I unfortunately found this book a slog. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I got through this, every school child in England should know his name, remember and cherish him as a national hero. Wilberforce was a man of his word, who put theory into action. He stood by his principles, but it was perhaps difficult to be a friend, due to his tenacity and determination. This is a hagiography and why not? Wilberforce pursed a great cause (alongside many other noble ones within the Clapham Sect), however I found that I had to force myself to finish this book and unfortunately had to come back three of four times to get through it.
First I’ll start with some of the positives. William Hague, himself is a politician, perhaps writing this when his star was shining brightest and therefore he brings a unique understanding of parliamentary life to his subject, offering valuable insight into the political strategies, alliances, and persistence required for Wilberforce’s long battle against the slave trade. Furthermore I felt that Hague was able to vividly capture the atmosphere of 18th and early 19th century Britain a world of shifting loyalties, religious fervor, and social reform. This builds from William Pitt the Younger and Hague has clearly done his research. You definitely gain a clear sense of how Wilberforce’s evangelical faith shaped his public life, and how his moral convictions were both his greatest strength and, at times, his personal burden.
For me, the problem starts with the subject matter. How Wilberforce defeats and brings down the slave trade is ultimately fascinating, but once that is done, I felt that there wasn’t a lot more to say. He is a background figure in the political life of the time, rising again when he puts pressure on that most famous of statesmen Viscount Castlereigh to force the French and Spanish et al to end their trades and ensures the lives of slaves and former slaves are improved.
Furthermore, as I have mentioned above this is a hagiography. While a good cause, this is no good for serious historical study. As a result. Hague’s admiration for Wilberforce leads to a tone that borders on reverential, leaving virtually no room for critical distance. The prose, though competent, occasionally gets bogs down in political minutiae and dense historical detail, and so the book doesn’t flow as much as William Pitt the Younger. This political detail (which is good in parts) causes ‘Wilberforce the man’, with his contradictions, doubts, and private struggles to sometimes get lost amid the exhaustive documentation of his public achievements.
In sum, I would say that William Wilberforce is a solid, respectable biography that will appeal most people with an existing interest in British political history or abolitionism. However it is dull and is more dutiful than inspiring. It’s a shame as I really wanted to love this book and I would be hesitant to read any more of Hague’s work as a result.
Having read and loved William Hague’s first book William Pitt the Younger, I always wanted to tackle his William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-Slave Trade Campaigner; and why not? They are by the same author, in the same period, (one of my favourites in history), both were great men with great ideals. William Wilberforce’s cause and conviction was one of the noblest in history and yet, I unfortunately found this book a slog. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I got through this, every school child in England should know his name, remember and cherish him as a national hero. Wilberforce was a man of his word, who put theory into action. He stood by his principles, but it was perhaps difficult to be a friend, due to his tenacity and determination. This is a hagiography and why not? Wilberforce pursed a great cause (alongside many other noble ones within the Clapham Sect), however I found that I had to force myself to finish this book and unfortunately had to come back three of four times to get through it.
First I’ll start with some of the positives. William Hague, himself is a politician, perhaps writing this when his star was shining brightest and therefore he brings a unique understanding of parliamentary life to his subject, offering valuable insight into the political strategies, alliances, and persistence required for Wilberforce’s long battle against the slave trade. Furthermore I felt that Hague was able to vividly capture the atmosphere of 18th and early 19th century Britain a world of shifting loyalties, religious fervor, and social reform. This builds from William Pitt the Younger and Hague has clearly done his research. You definitely gain a clear sense of how Wilberforce’s evangelical faith shaped his public life, and how his moral convictions were both his greatest strength and, at times, his personal burden.
For me, the problem starts with the subject matter. How Wilberforce defeats and brings down the slave trade is ultimately fascinating, but once that is done, I felt that there wasn’t a lot more to say. He is a background figure in the political life of the time, rising again when he puts pressure on that most famous of statesmen Viscount Castlereigh to force the French and Spanish et al to end their trades and ensures the lives of slaves and former slaves are improved.
Furthermore, as I have mentioned above this is a hagiography. While a good cause, this is no good for serious historical study. As a result. Hague’s admiration for Wilberforce leads to a tone that borders on reverential, leaving virtually no room for critical distance. The prose, though competent, occasionally gets bogs down in political minutiae and dense historical detail, and so the book doesn’t flow as much as William Pitt the Younger. This political detail (which is good in parts) causes ‘Wilberforce the man’, with his contradictions, doubts, and private struggles to sometimes get lost amid the exhaustive documentation of his public achievements.
In sum, I would say that William Wilberforce is a solid, respectable biography that will appeal most people with an existing interest in British political history or abolitionism. However it is dull and is more dutiful than inspiring. It’s a shame as I really wanted to love this book and I would be hesitant to read any more of Hague’s work as a result.
August 23, 2021
23rd of February 1807: the British Parliament abolishes the Triangular Trade. If we will have to wait another two decades (1833) for slavery itself to be abolished across the British colonies, the end of the Triangular Trade nevertheless remained a major turning point in the abolitionist struggle. This turn, successful yet hard won step following an uphill battle that lasted more than twenty years was, also, possible mainly thanks to one MP in particular: William Wilberforce.
William Hague, himself a politician and British parliamentarian, delivers here a dense and intense biography of a man those faith, truly, moved mountains. If William Wilberforce was indeed a key figure of the British Evangelist movement, a strong believer shaped by his Christian faith and ethos, his creed also served as a pillar to his politics, including the most important campaigning topic among them all -his support for the abolitionist cause. More than the life and personality of William Wilberforce, though, harsh man even with himself, passionate, dedicated, demanding, workaholic and idealist (yet far from being naïve) the author also retells of an era rich in troubles and contradictions. We discover, for example, how the turmoil of the French Revolution, its consequences, and the wars against France weighted heavily in the debates against slavery itself in Britain.
William Wilberforce, an extraordinary man who combined humanism, evangelism, philanthropy, and, above all, strong political skills, remains one of the most important British historical persona. This biography, dense, fascinating and brilliantly engrossing, published in 2007 to celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of the Triangular Trade, serves as a wonderful tribute.
William Hague, himself a politician and British parliamentarian, delivers here a dense and intense biography of a man those faith, truly, moved mountains. If William Wilberforce was indeed a key figure of the British Evangelist movement, a strong believer shaped by his Christian faith and ethos, his creed also served as a pillar to his politics, including the most important campaigning topic among them all -his support for the abolitionist cause. More than the life and personality of William Wilberforce, though, harsh man even with himself, passionate, dedicated, demanding, workaholic and idealist (yet far from being naïve) the author also retells of an era rich in troubles and contradictions. We discover, for example, how the turmoil of the French Revolution, its consequences, and the wars against France weighted heavily in the debates against slavery itself in Britain.
William Wilberforce, an extraordinary man who combined humanism, evangelism, philanthropy, and, above all, strong political skills, remains one of the most important British historical persona. This biography, dense, fascinating and brilliantly engrossing, published in 2007 to celebrate the bicentenary of the abolition of the Triangular Trade, serves as a wonderful tribute.
January 12, 2013
Wilberforce was an independent and independently minded politician who, through his deep seated Christianity and sense of morality embarked on a campaign that took up almost the last 50 years of his life to abolish the slave trade. William Hague tells the story in great detail, in a well researched and readable manner. Like many people of his time Wilberforce was a diarist and a great letter writer and Hague makes great use of this material to paint a picture not only of what Wilberforce did but also what he thought and why he did things the way he did.
Hague, being a distinguished politician and parliamentarian in his own right, also describes in great detail how British "democracy" worked at the beginning of the 19th century with its rotten boroughs, patronage, uncontested elections and voters being paid their expenses to vote by the candidates. He also provides a vivid historical backdrop of the period and how the events that preceded and coincide with Wilberforce's life influenced the thinking of people at that time: The Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the almost constant state of war mainly against the french, the Regency and the role of the Monarchy in the government of the country.
This political biography is unusual because as Hague points out at the end, Wilberforce's was a life fulfilled. He achieved what he set out to achieve. There are not many politicians who can say that.
If you want to know more about Wilberforce, the slave trade or just that period in British history then I would recommend this book.
Hague, being a distinguished politician and parliamentarian in his own right, also describes in great detail how British "democracy" worked at the beginning of the 19th century with its rotten boroughs, patronage, uncontested elections and voters being paid their expenses to vote by the candidates. He also provides a vivid historical backdrop of the period and how the events that preceded and coincide with Wilberforce's life influenced the thinking of people at that time: The Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the almost constant state of war mainly against the french, the Regency and the role of the Monarchy in the government of the country.
This political biography is unusual because as Hague points out at the end, Wilberforce's was a life fulfilled. He achieved what he set out to achieve. There are not many politicians who can say that.
If you want to know more about Wilberforce, the slave trade or just that period in British history then I would recommend this book.
September 7, 2011
This was a very even handed and informative biography. The most interesting part was the history of the time period. Being educated in the US, we really don't learn about history in Europe until the first world war. It was fascinating to learn what was going on in Europe from our revolutionary war through our civil war. I found it particularly interesting to learn that many English citizens and members of parliament were against the Revolutionary war. This seems obvious upon reflection, given it would be a war against their own.
I read this biography, like many, because of the movie "Amazing Grace". It was really interesting how much the movie flubbed actual events. I think it was a bit of a disservice, because it did not show how much of his life this process consumed. Nor did it show how he was a product of his time and how his trusting nature sometimes got him into trouble.
The biography really shows how passion, hard work, a kind heart, friendship, and some luck can change the way the world works.
I read this biography, like many, because of the movie "Amazing Grace". It was really interesting how much the movie flubbed actual events. I think it was a bit of a disservice, because it did not show how much of his life this process consumed. Nor did it show how he was a product of his time and how his trusting nature sometimes got him into trouble.
The biography really shows how passion, hard work, a kind heart, friendship, and some luck can change the way the world works.
April 27, 2021
One of the best books I have ever read.
December 31, 2016
Not only was learning about William Wilberforce's life exciting, intriguing, and inspiring, but I really appreciated this author's approach in the telling of it. I felt like Hague kept Wilberforce's strong faith in solid neutral tension - neither over-glorifying his faith as the foundation for his life, nor diminishing or ridiculing his faith as core to who he was and how he lived his life. At times when it felt like Hague was taking a tangent into historical background, I found that if I stayed engaged I actually learned a lot about the history of the times Wilberforce was living in, and that Hague did a pretty good job of tying it directly back to a decision Wilberforce made or an aspect of Wilberforce's life that likely contributed to his behavior. They were therefore not random tangents, but rather providing historical context to something that may have been interpreted differently if we as readers and learners read about it in an isolated manner. Overall I thought this was a great book to read. I'm not sure I would read it again in the near future though, because you should be forewarned that while it's not a heavy read, it did take me a while to get through. Also, my only regret is not writing down the loads of new vocabulary words I learned while reading this book. Hague certainly didn't use such intellectual language to an extent that I felt burdened by reading the book, but I did stop and ask my husband what something meant or consulted with dictionary.com enough times to make it a pretty significant aspect of my reading experience.
March 9, 2018
This is a captivating insight into the life of William Wilberforce. Hague states, “The opportunity for individuals to change history is shaped by the great social and intellectual forces of their times.” With his flowing easy-to-read prose, Hague clearly shows how Wilberforce changed history.
Though born into wealth he was a generous champion of the down trodden. Though he was of poor health and slight stature, his Christian conversion gave him an un-ebbing practical zeal to fight for the abolition of slavery. This was to be his life’s work as he confronted the horrors and beneficiaries of the slave trade. His many admirable characteristics of personality, wit and charisma resulted in long-term friendships and influence as a Member of Parliament.
Hague skilfully takes us through the challenging times of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and the political battles faced by Wilberforce. We share his triumphs and his failings both in Parliament and in his private life. We also marvel at his accomplishments; “the man who had laboured for nearly fifty years to promote measures that would one day lead to the emancipation of the slaves knew (on his death bed)……. that this goal had been accomplished.”
Though born into wealth he was a generous champion of the down trodden. Though he was of poor health and slight stature, his Christian conversion gave him an un-ebbing practical zeal to fight for the abolition of slavery. This was to be his life’s work as he confronted the horrors and beneficiaries of the slave trade. His many admirable characteristics of personality, wit and charisma resulted in long-term friendships and influence as a Member of Parliament.
Hague skilfully takes us through the challenging times of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and the political battles faced by Wilberforce. We share his triumphs and his failings both in Parliament and in his private life. We also marvel at his accomplishments; “the man who had laboured for nearly fifty years to promote measures that would one day lead to the emancipation of the slaves knew (on his death bed)……. that this goal had been accomplished.”
August 15, 2017
I have totally abandoned my reading challenge and I'm glad because the time invested in reading this gripping biography was worth so much more.
Hague brings Wilberforce, his friends, foes, struggles and triumphs vividly to life. Completely fascinating on both the political and personal life of a truly inspiring man (who perhaps made no distinction between the two).
The campaign to abolish the slave trade makes up the majority of this book as Wilberforce's life's work but a fully rounded portrait is drawn showing his huge energy, his other achievements, his religious convictions, his poor health, his family and friends. A man who it seems was profoundly serious while also being the life and soul of any party. Yes, Hague, clearly has a pash on Wilberforce and sometimes makes too many excuses for him. It's the right way to write a book about a man who always looked for the good in others.
A book to make you believe the world can be a better place. The final sentence is spot on "In the dark, historical landscape of violence, treachery and hate, the life of William Wilberforce stands out as a beacon of light, which the passing of two centuries has scarcely dimmed"
Hague brings Wilberforce, his friends, foes, struggles and triumphs vividly to life. Completely fascinating on both the political and personal life of a truly inspiring man (who perhaps made no distinction between the two).
The campaign to abolish the slave trade makes up the majority of this book as Wilberforce's life's work but a fully rounded portrait is drawn showing his huge energy, his other achievements, his religious convictions, his poor health, his family and friends. A man who it seems was profoundly serious while also being the life and soul of any party. Yes, Hague, clearly has a pash on Wilberforce and sometimes makes too many excuses for him. It's the right way to write a book about a man who always looked for the good in others.
A book to make you believe the world can be a better place. The final sentence is spot on "In the dark, historical landscape of violence, treachery and hate, the life of William Wilberforce stands out as a beacon of light, which the passing of two centuries has scarcely dimmed"
June 12, 2020
William Hague's biography of William Wilberforce isn't the most renowned treatment of the subject - at the time of writing this review, Eric Metaxas' version has a similar average rating but about fifteen times as many readers. While I'll certainly aim to expand my reading of Wilberforce in the future, it's hard to imagine a more definitive or well-executed account than that of Hague. He is equally attentive to every stage in the remarkable life and career of Wilberforce, and his digressions are sparing but appropriate. This ranks among the best biographies I've ever read, and I keenly look forward to beginning Hague's other notable work - the life of William Pitt the Younger.
November 26, 2017
A stirring example of Christian perseverance
It would be hard not to think well of the man credited with the abolition of slavery. What this book achieves is to oblige the reader to admire the dogged and God-given determination with which emancipation was pursued. It also recognises the causal link between Wilberforce's Christian faith and the determination with which he battled against immense opposition gently to win over sceptics and even opponents. William Hague has written a fair, balanced and inspiring biography.
It would be hard not to think well of the man credited with the abolition of slavery. What this book achieves is to oblige the reader to admire the dogged and God-given determination with which emancipation was pursued. It also recognises the causal link between Wilberforce's Christian faith and the determination with which he battled against immense opposition gently to win over sceptics and even opponents. William Hague has written a fair, balanced and inspiring biography.
February 14, 2018
Nearly 600 pages of small print, accompanied by photographs and drawings, author William Hague takes the reader into the life and experiences of William Wilberforce and his efforts to blot out slave trade in the England. The content of the book provides great insight into the history of the slave trade and abollition-related activities, including an education into the "behind the scenes" actions of those involved in this business. For those seeking an education into the history of one of mankind's greatest inhumanities to man (and woman), this is a good book.
April 27, 2025
probably a 2.5 I love the movie about Wilberforce and was excited to learn more about him. I did indeed learn more about him, but it was difficult for me to get through all the political details. if you are super interested politics and the details of that, this would be great. I would have been satisfied with more of an overview of the political machinations and more detail into the man himself. although I did learn a lot about how he fought for so long and hard through the political channels to make a change in the world.
October 15, 2017
This is an excellent and meaty biography, and I agree with those who say the reader ends up liking the author as well as the subject. Perhaps there's a tiny bit too much electoral procedure, but it is well-written, sympathetic (including to Wilberforce's Christianity)fair-minded and thorough in its portrayal of someone one would have loved to have known. (In heaven, I hope.) It also clarifies the age in which he lived.
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September 20, 2019From JB: How a sociable but sickly man fought throughout decades of resistance in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarchy (our old friend George III) to outlaw the British Slave Trade which transported African slaves from West Africa to the Caribbean. It's the story of evangelical fervor, persistence and Providence. Hague undertook this biography because he'd already written the life of Wilberforce's great friend, William Pitt the Younger.
May 6, 2025
It’s my first attempt at a Hague book and there’s no denying he does a good job. Unfortunately it’s Wilberforce I didn’t like, so this felt like a slog. Undeniably important to the abolitionist movement, and often very eloquent, he was also a contrary, difficult and frequently a sanctimonious bore.
August 3, 2017
I think this should be the gold standard of Wilberforce biographies. Author brings not only a depth of knowledge on his subject, but due to his experiences in modern British politics is able to breath new insight into the topic. A dense book but worth the effort most definitely.
March 4, 2020
Epic!
Fantastic attention to detail, superbly written and does not hide or underplay the faith that drove Wilberforce.
Extracts from his diaries that detail his devotions to Jesus and his humility despite his great achievements were heartwarming.
Fantastic attention to detail, superbly written and does not hide or underplay the faith that drove Wilberforce.
Extracts from his diaries that detail his devotions to Jesus and his humility despite his great achievements were heartwarming.
March 8, 2021
Good read
I enjoyed reading this book although it’s hard going with very long chapters so if you want to read for half an hour you will probably loose the plot. Most chapters take around one and a half hours to read.
I did learn a lot about William Wilberforce though.
I enjoyed reading this book although it’s hard going with very long chapters so if you want to read for half an hour you will probably loose the plot. Most chapters take around one and a half hours to read.
I did learn a lot about William Wilberforce though.
August 25, 2021
The book is very well written and kept me interested despite being about politics which I find inherently dull. However it is very long and I felt could have been trimmed without harm. Some points such as that Wilberforce always had a back log of correspondence are repeated numerous times.
November 17, 2024
Really accessible readable account of a quite clearly great man. It brought the era to life for me and highlighted how many similarities there still are with the present day. Same types of problems, same human beings, just different issues.
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August 5, 2025What a man. A hero I’m so glad to understand better. A brilliant biography that explains him accurately and graciously without becoming a hagiography (which sadly Metaxas does in his treatment). A testimony to the Providence of God to use weak men to accomplish great good in our fallen world.
December 17, 2018
This is a balanced, brilliantly written account of Wilberforce's engaging life! I enjoyed every chapter and the research
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April 24, 2020Heavy going. Interesting biography of this anti-slave politician.
July 28, 2022
Really good biography of a good man. Also, biographies are the best form of history writing, in my opinion.
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