Clapham Sect

The Clapham Sect was an influential group of like-minded social reformers in England at the beginning of the nineteenth century (active c. 1790 - 1830).

Related Topics:
England - 1790 - 1830

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Its members were chiefly prominent and wealthy evangelical Anglicans who shared common political views concerning the liberation of slaves, the abolition of the slave trade and the reform of the penal system.

Related Topics:
Evangelical - Anglican - Liberation of slaves - Slave trade

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The group's name originates from Clapham, then a village south of London (today part of south-west London), where both Wilberforce and Thornton, the sect's two most influential leaders, resided and where many of the group's meetings were held. They were supported by Beilby Porteus, Bishop of London, who sympathised with many of their aims.

Related Topics:
Clapham - Wilberforce - Thornton - Beilby Porteus - Bishop of London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After many decades of work both in Parliament and in general society, they and their successors saw their efforts rewarded, as England finally banned the slave trade, both in the British Isles and the Empire, and used its influence and power to eradicate legal slavery throughout the world.

Related Topics:
Parliament - Slave trade - British Isles - Empire - Slavery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lampooned in their day as "the saints", the group published a journal, the Christian Observer, and were also credited with the foundation of several missionary and tract societies, including the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Church Missionary Society.

Related Topics:
British and Foreign Bible Society - Church Missionary Society

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Members of The Clapham Sect included:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thomas Gisbourne (1758 - 1846), clergyman and author

Related Topics:
Thomas Gisbourne - 1758 - 1846

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Charles Grant (1746 - 1823), business administrator

Related Topics:
Charles Grant - 1746 - 1823

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zachary Macaulay (1768 - 1838), estate manager, colonial governor, father of Thomas Macaulay

Related Topics:
Zachary Macaulay - 1768 - 1838 - Thomas Macaulay

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hannah More (1745 - 1835), writer and philanthropist

Related Topics:
Hannah More - 1745 - 1835

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Granville Sharp (1735 - 1813), scholar and administrator

Related Topics:
Granville Sharp - 1735 - 1813

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Charles Simeon (1759 - 1836), Anglican minister, promoter of missions

Related Topics:
Charles Simeon - 1759 - 1836

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Smith, M.P. (1756 - 1835), parliamentarian

Related Topics:
William Smith - 1756 - 1835

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Stephen (1758 - 1832), Master of Chancery

Related Topics:
James Stephen - 1758 - 1832

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lord Teignmouth (1751 - 1834), Governor-General of India

Related Topics:
1751 - 1834 - India

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry Thornton (1760 - 1815), economist, banker, philanthropist, MP for Southwark

Related Topics:
Henry Thornton - 1760 - 1815 - MP - Southwark

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Henry Venn (1725 - 1797), founder of the group

Related Topics:
Henry Venn - 1725 - 1797

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Venn (1759 - 1813), Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Clapham

Related Topics:
John Venn - 1759 - 1813 - Clapham

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Wilberforce (1759 - 1833), parliamentarian, leading abolitionist

Related Topics:
William Wilberforce - 1759 - 1833

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~