A most amazing Englishman

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william wilberforce

he abolished the slave trade. more clues please

 

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guy fawkes?

 

We have a winner.

I had never heard of William Wilberforce despite his tremendous contributions to English history and English society as a whole. This man completely changed the foundation of the British Empire and its economy in one lifetime, and that is quite an accomplishment. He was a tremendous force for good.

The movie is Amazing Grace. I've seen it panned as a B rated movie, but I loved it as the story is fascinating, and it shows just how much a man can accomplish when he fights for something that is just, good, and right.

 

why thank you

i actually know something of historical importance.

 

LOL. Yeah, William Wilberforce is very important historically. I'm pretty amazed at how quickly this thread died. I thought people would be at least mildly interested in the main character involved in abolishing something as despicable as slavery. Who he was, what he did, has a major impact in every aspect of every British citizen's life, as does what Abraham Lincoln did on all US citizens.

Slavery was only one aspect of what he did to improve his country. He helped the areas of political reform to reduce corruption, education, the RSPCA, teaching the commoners about personal hygiene and its necessity, and more.

I love what one of his contemporaries said about him after watching him at work in the House of Commons. ""I saw what seemed a mere shrimp mount upon the table; but as I listened, he grew, and grew, until the shrimp became a whale." This was a truly remarkable man. If I were an Englishman I would be just as proud of him and his accomplishments as I am of Abraham Lincoln as an American.

Just think about it. He was an honest politician. How rare and how noteworthy is that?

 

I'm rather embarrassed to say I've never heard of him before.

 

Here are a few tidbits to make you feel a little worse.

He is buried in Westminster Abbey next to William Pitt.

There are monuments to him in several places in England. One is over 100 feet tall.

The Queen placed wreath on his grave in celebrating the abolishing of slavery this year.

To tell the truth he has become quite obscure. I've read accounts of William Pitt's life and he wasn't a character that I even remember, yet he was a close friend of Pitt's.

 

The movie is very good. It's quite a story and well worth watching. It's one I will definitely watch more than once.

 

You use the word amazing several times, a recent film called Amazing Grace starring Ioan Gruffudd was about William Wilberforce and his struggle to get the slave trade abolished, am i right or a million miles away?

 

Just seen that someone answered before me, got it from the cryptic clues though honest.

 

wish you'd have said that earlier i could have popped accross the road and checked

grim

 

I have heard of him, certainly his name was familiar to me, but I couldn't have said what he did.

 

Hmm. Guy Fawkes also entered Parliament with an honest intention.

J.

 

[claim to fame] One of my ancient ancestors was part of the Gunpowder plot [/claim to fame]

 

you ever thought about finishing his work ?

grim

 

That's a very leading question, are you wearing a wire?

 

I loved that movie. Our church offered several of us an advance showing at a theater, and it was great.