Wilberforce, WILLIAM, abolitionist and philanthropist, was born at Hull on 24th August 1759. His father was a wealthy merchant, descended from an old family, proprietors of Wilberfoss, in the East Riding of York. After a delicate childhood, Wilberforce, at the age of nine, on his father's death, was sent to school at Wimbledon, where, under the care of a pious aunt, he was like to become a Methodist. But his mother did not approve of a serious education, and removed him to a school at Pocklington, Yorkshire, where the religious impressions he had received were soon dissipated by a life of gaiety. His constitution was delicate, but he was quick and spirited, and fond of society, in which his lively conversation and musical talent made him a great favourite. While at school he addressed a letter to a York paper (1773) 'in condemnation of the odious traffic in human flesh,' the removal of which was afterwards the main object of his life. At seventeen he entered St John's College, Cambridge, and in due time he passed his examinations with credit. He came, on attaining his majority, into possession of a large fortune, and determined to enter parliament. In 1780 he was returned for Hull. He had known Pitt when at Cambridge, made a tour in France with him in 1783, and in London they became inseparable friends. But Wilberforce, in parliament, remained independent of party. The elevation of Pitt to the premiership gave him an opportunity of taking office, but he declined to do so. He rendered, however, efficient service to his friend. In 1784 he was returned to parliament for both Hull and Yorkshire, and took his seat for the county. In 1784-85 Wilberforce made a tour on the Continent with some ladies of his family and Isaac Milner, the Dean of Carlisle, in conversation with whom he became seriously impressed with the truths of the Christian religion, and the rest of his life was leavened with a spirit of earnest piety and devotion. In 1787 he in a great measure eschewed gaiety, and founded an association for the reformation of manners; and in 1788, while in very bad health, he entered on his nineteen years' struggle for the abolition of the slave-trade, to which he thenceforward dedicated his whole time. He was powerfully supported by the Quakers, and by Mr Thomas Clarkson, who kept alive interest in the subject outside the walls of the House of Commons. Pitt, in the absence of Wilberforce through ill-health, introduced the subject to parliament in 1788; in the following year when Wilberforce proposed the abolition of the slave-trade in the House of Commons, he met with powerful opposition, until, after several years of indefatigable labour, the measure for abolition received the royal assent 25th March 1807. Sir Samuel Romilly, who supported the measure, compared the feelings of Napoleon, then at the height of his glory, with those of the English philanthropist, 'who would that day lay his head upon his pillow, and remember that the slave-trade was no more;' and the whole House burst into applause, and greeted Wilberforce with enthusiastic cheers. Wilberforce now sought to secure the abolition of the slave-trade abroad. He at the same time entered on an agitation for the total abolition of slavery itself. Declining health, however, compelled him in 1825 to retire from parliament, in which, since 1812, he had sat for the borough of Bramber. The movement against slavery was then entrusted to Sir T. Fowell Buxton. Three days before Wilberforce's death news was brought him that the Abolition Bill had passed a second reading, and he thanked God he had lived to see his countrymen spend 20 millions sterling in such a cause. He died 29th July 1833, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, where there is a statue of him. Yorkshire erected a county asylum to his memory, and Hull a column. In 1797 Wilberforce married the daughter of Mr J. Spooner, the banker of Birmingham, by whom he had a family of six children. Wilberforce is the author of a Practical View of Christianity, which, on its publication in 1797, went through five editions in half a year, and was translated into four European languages. He interested himself in the founding of the Christian Observer (1801) and in many schemes for the welfare of the community. He also assisted Hannah More in the founding of her schools at Cheddar. One-fourth of his income went for private charity. He possessed great conversational powers, and was cheerful in disposition, witty and vivacious, a lover of music and flowers. Mackintosh said, 'I never saw one who touched life at so many points.'
See the Life by his sons (5 vols. 1838); and The Private Papers of William Wilberforce, edited by A. M. Wilberforce (1897).