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

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Downing Street

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

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

People

William Wilberforce (1759 - 1833)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, man, philanthropy, abolitionism, Member of Parliament

Materials & Techniques

marble, bust (as object name), marble bust

Artist

Samuel Joseph (1791 - 1850)

Title

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

Date

1833

Medium

Marble bust

Dimensions

height: 76.00 cm, width: 50.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Robin Eden, Corsham, February 1953

Inscription

verso: S. Joseph / Sculp:t 1833

GAC number

2036