William Wilberforce: Abolitionist, Reformer, Evangelical

On February 24, 1807, the House of Commons voted by 283 votes to 16 to end the trade in human slaves in all British territories. The outcome was testimony to the tenacity, zeal, and commitment of the most prominent evangelical Member of Parliament at the end of the 18th century, William Wilberforce (1759–1833). It had been a long journey. Wilberforce represents the more mature phase of the evangelical revival. His conversion, in 1785, led him to campaign not only against slavery but also for wider moral reforms in society. His involvement in key evangelical organizations led to, among other things, a battle against social and personal vice; the establishment of an evangelical newspaper, the Christian Observer; and the publication of a widely popular theological tract, A Practical View.