Wilberforce

by John Charles Pollock

"Vivid and painstakingly researched biography." —Daily Telegraph"Wilberforce modeled a combination of Christian principle and tactical genius as relevant in the twenty-first century as in his own time." —William Hague"The biography is the product of much painstaking research. John Pollock has made use of virtually all the extant manuscript collections containing Wilberforce materials. He gives a detailed picture of his life and character which includes some important new information." —ObserverWilliam Wilberforce was at the heart of British politics for over forty years but is chiefly remembered as the reformer who campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade in England. This intriguing and insightful biography of his life will inspire you to find ways to stand on your convictions and make a difference wherever you are.--John Pollock was one of the preeminent Christian biographers of his generation. Over four milion copies of his books have been sold in English alone, works that covered the lives of Hudson Taylor, William Wilberforce, and John Wesley. He also wrote The A Life of Paul, and served as Billy Graham's official biographer. John and his wife Anne traveled widely in many parts of the world for the purpose of research.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Audiobook

513 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

The late John Pollock, an award-winning biographer, had a flair for telling a dramatic story. He used this talent to write many biographies including ones on D. L. Moody and Major General Sir Henry Havelock.

Reviews

[Watermarked Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could pick someone from history to have a conversation with, it would be William Wilberforce. I’m so inspired by his character, his work for abolition, the way he impacted individuals and popular culture for Christ, and the way he handled physical and relational suffering.

This is the fourth biography I’ve read of Wilberforce, and it was definitely the driest. Pollack focuses primarily on political events, and misses a lot of the pathos and relatability other biographers bring out. I loved reading it because I admire Wilberforce so much, but it wouldn’t be my first recommendation.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough, well researched biography of the great Christian parliamentarian who brought about the abolition of the slave trade from the British Empire.

[Josh Sieders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad to have read this book, another strong biography from Pollock. It took a while, and early on I had fears that I would be drowned by the complexity of English titles and name-dropping to weave family relations together. This lessened, though it continued throughout the book as Wilberforce was a politician and had immense correspondence and was connected to so many people.

Nevertheless, a respectable, endearing and admirable portrait emerged about this famous yet complicated historical character. Wilberforce's conversion and deepening faith drove him politically and it was not always easy to play the game and remain true to convictions. He was also a man of his time and so seeing all these tensions at play was an interesting example of Christianity at work in a culture that is christian in name and values, but far less so in practice.

[Faustina Magoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry, dull and tedious. And did I say dry?

[Ross Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching "Amazing Grace" I decided to find out what Wilberforce was actually like, and was debating between this and Belmonte's biographies. When I saw that Belmonte had earlier won "The John Pollock Award," I knew that one author stood taller than the other!

This is a very conservative biography, and by that I mean Pollock commentates and interprets very sparingly. He reports simple facts, and when there is something to be said about his subject, he finds in Wilberforce's own words, or in the words of those who knew him, such lively descriptions as a biographer 200 years later could never invent with a straight face. In these writings from Wilberforce's letters and journals we see the heart of a man desperate to serve his Lord, in the words of those who knew him we see a man with the joy of his Lord in the face of adversity, and sprinkled throughout is good old-fashioned British wit.

Wilberforce was a man of passion and persistence. His discipline to stay the course was apparently not matched by his discipline of organization, but in him we see the power of a man committed to a cause over decades, and how God used the labors of a few men to turn the hearts of an entire nation against the great evil of the day. Wilberforce usually didn't take uncompromising stands as he pursued his great object, but he was relentless in his incrementalism. He pressed on until he couldn't fight any longer, and then was allowed to live just long enough to see the last great victory.

Who will be the relentless voice against todays evils? Who will be the voice crying in the cities to turn the nations? Who will be our Wilberforce?

[Mark Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, sympathetic, rigorous, well written, and EXTREMELY British (it helped that the audiobook reader had just the right RP accent). A fair number of the minor details were lost on me, ignorant as I am of 18th century British political practices. But my mind stayed engaged with the narrative and the humble character of its subject.

Wilberforce's great efforts—to reform British national morals and abolish the slave trade—come across as sincere fruits of his evangelical beliefs and his kindly, vivacious, witty soul.

One may choose the utopian route and demand justice now, and one may be in the right. But more often (?), great evils either take violence to root out—a violence which, as in the French Revolution, bring greater evils—or they take political patience and assiduousness. We heirs of British culture, who shed much of the blood extracted by our slavers' whips, might wish we had a Wilberforce who could have helped rid us of this moral scourge sooner than the 1860s.

[Xavier Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography of Wilberforce is, according to historical theologian Michael Morgan, the "one book [among other Wilberforce biographies] “to rule them all”—a biography that combines engaging storytelling with historical finesse, theological sensitivity with social and political acumen". A good read starting from Wilberforce's family background and his time at Cambridge, to his entering Parliament in 1780, to his "turning Methodist" (i.e. his evangelical conversion) in 1785 (this was when Wilberforce consulted John Newton and Newton urged him to stay in Parliament rather than retire from public life and take up holy orders), and eventually, taking up the cause of abolition. It is interesting to see how Wilberforce infused his faith into his political life, and how it caused him to be a true independent (though he often supported his friend Pitt the Younger).

"For Wilberforce wanted to subject not merely his appetites but his politics to Christ: ‘A man who acts from the principles I profess,’ he told a constituent three years after the conversion, ‘reflects that he is to give an account of his political conduct at the Judgement seat of Christ.’ This strong sense of accountability was turning Pitt’s once easy-going supporter into a new force in British politics." (p 46)

In Wilberforce's own words, abolition of the slave trade was not the sole purpose of his public life – "God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners." (p 69, quoting Wilberforce's diary entry from 28 October 1787) Wilberforce thus pushed for a royal "Proclamation for the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue" which, among other things, prohibited excessive drinking, profane swearing and cursing, lewdness, suppressed "all loose and licentious prints, books and publications", etc. (p 61), and formed the Proclamation Society (to execute the Proclamation). Wilberforce also pushed for abolition of the death penalty for certain groups like women and the young, as well as prison reform (Wilberforce was friends with Jeremy Bentham, who had designed the Panopticon to replace the prison hulks which felons "languished in" (p 137)). Still, most of the book is (rightly) on his efforts to abolish the slave trade, as he navigated British politics through domestic and international affairs such as the French Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars. These were not divorced from Wilberforce's heart for abolition, however, since Wilberforce was pushing for treaties which would abolish the slave trade across various nations so that the trade does not simply redirect from one territory to another.

Another interesting point was Wilberforce's views on religion. On 12 April 1797, Wilberforce published "A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious system of Professed Christians, in the Higher and Middle Classes in this Country, contrasted with Real Christianity", which "sets out the essential Christian doctrines by Scripture texts" and discussed "how Christianity should and could guide the politics, habits and attitudes of a nation from the highest to the lowest." (pp 147-148) His letters also revealed a theological mind. For example, "Wilberforce was acutely conscious of the tension" between the principles of salvation by faith alone and the command to "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Thus Wilberforce wrote to his cousin: "The genuine Christian... strives not to prove himself guiltless but humbles himself in the dust and acknowledges that he is not worthy of the least of all God's mercies. ... His language is “Oh that I might therefore show myself in some sort worthy of this infinite love, infinite condescension and unutterable love”.' He goes out from his prayers in this spirit, and if he falls he turns yet again to the Cross, and ‘the sight of his expiring Redeemer assures him of the pardon of his iniquities." (pp 151-152)

While a short chapter, Pollock also covers Wilberforce meeting Barbara Spooner on 15 April 1797, proposing marriage six days later, and marrying her on 30 May 1797. A cute and light-hearted part of the book and Wilberforce's life.

Wilberforce also weighed in on economics. The Great Hunger in 1799-1800 caused the House of Commons to nominate him to the Committee on how to offset the scarcity of grain, and Wilberforce's writings reflected his acceptance of Adam Smith's economic theory on free markets while "yet believ[ing] these should not be 'pushed to a vicious extreme'." (p 171) Wilberforce also advised that "a fortune is great or small according to anyone's situation in life", opining that "if he lived quietly in the country with Mrs Wilberforce[,] he would be affluent with half his present fortune." (p 170) Nevertheless, his belief caused him to opine that each station in life had duties, with greater duties accompanying higher stations, and "[t]he whole social order of England was an interlocking unity". Thus Wilberforce was still very much a product of his time and social order. Nevertheless, he practiced the charity and generosity he preached, and "in his old age, his own fortune nearly disappeared" (p 170).

Overall, I walked away from this book much more appreciative of Wilberforce and his life and career. Highly recommended.

[Taylor Rollo · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was good information in this biography, so for that, it is worth your time. It may be one of the best in that respect. However, it was written like a doctoral dissertation, dry, and dull. Biographies are histories, yes, but when written well, they can keep you turning the pages. This one is not like that, unfortunately.

[Don MacLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides an exhaustive account of Wilberforce's life and accomplishments, powerfully tracing his journey. The book does delve into the minutiae, which can cause it to become something of a chore to read, but if you want to learn about Wilberforce or what late 18th- early 19th century England was like this book is excellent.

[Peter Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very inspiring and interesting biography of one of the great, though humble, characters of history. His greatest work was for the abolition of the slave trade, though he did an enormous amount for other great causes and was an active supporter of the increase of Christian mission and evangelism. I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to have read this.

[wyclif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top-notch biography of the Englishman most responsible for the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade, and the evangelical Anglican MP and politician who advocated Christianity as the basis for reforms to morals, education and religion in opposition to radical causes and revolution.

[James Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting biography of one of the most fascinating people to have graced the world.

[Andy Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt, thorough appreciation of Wilberforce and of his faith and fight against slavery and the slave trade. How appropriate in a time of increased slavery and human trafficking.

[Kevin Vigneault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read. Moves along well and doesn't bore.

Good informational and historical book. Neat to see the way of life and conviction of Wilberforce. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

One quick disclosure: I only listened to about a third of this book due to the length. When I selected the audiobook, I assumed it would be a fairly concise biography of Wilberforce. That was not the case.
With that said, I was very impressed with the book, and I found the parts I read very enjoyable. The book was thoroughly researched, and from what I read the author gives a very detailed account of nearly ever part of Wilberforce's life. For any reader interested in developing a comprehensive understanding of William Wilberforce, this biography is worth your time. It may not be the best option for a more casual reader.

[Shelby Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed bio of Wilberforce. . I would recommend reading Wilberforce's book, Practical Christianity then Eric Metaxas' biography of Wilberforce and then follow it up with this book.

[Susan R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very tedious reading.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit expansive on Wilberforce's family life and political involvement, but no one reading this can fail to grasp three things. One, Wilberforce had a passion for God and people that drove him to be involved at a breakneck pace. Two, since doctors (at the time) thought heroin pills were beneficial, one can grant Wilberforce grace for developing a life-long habit. Three, Wilberforce was a bit too gracious with an overanxious wife and slovenly household help, but he was as well-regarded for his cheerfulness and bonhomie as for his bedrock principles. England was in a wretched moral state, having exchanged a shaky economy for human lives and a thriving heroin trade, and Wilberforce stood in the gap and rallied for change that lasted. I wish our politicians would make the same level of effort to fight our society's wretched blindness and ignore those who say 'the slaves are happy/fated to be lorded over.' Studies can be twisted, then and now.