William Wilberforce signature

Two William Wilberforce signatures (one example seen to the left). Because of this man, slavery ended in England and the abolitionist movement in America was influenced. As a constituency Member of Parliament, he had a lifelong involvement in the campaign to abolish slavery.

-- Handwritten letter by William Wilberforce (dated October 4th, 1808, East Bourne) to a Mr. Ch Idle, Esq., "My friend Mr. John Thornton and I were intending to do ourselves the pleasure of calling on you today, but we found on inquiry that you and Mrs. Idle were both absent. Our object was to confer with you concerning the setting up of a School (whether a Sunday or every day school may be matter of future consideration) in this neighborhood and putting it under the care of some truly pious teacher, ?, besides that general knowledge of your character which would have prompted us to apply to you for your concurrence in any such project...". NOTE: Mr. John Thornton was a wealthy merchant banker who had financially assisted ex-slaver, John Newton and many others.