Eariliest abolitionist?

Question

Who was he/she? Please include a website all about him/her if you can, please.

Answer 1

While it is true that the late 18th century fight for abolition owes MUCH to the British agitators of the late 18th century (under men like Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce), in the years just preceding the American Revolution there were many Americans who became involved in the cause. In fact, efforts began some time earlier, and many of them NOT in Britain but in her North American colonies... and above all among the Quakers in and around Philadelphia.

The Quakers became especially active in this cause as a result of the French & Indian War (1750s) when, suffering for their own pacifist stance, they became convinced of the need to take a PUBLIC stand against social evils such as slavery.

IF you want ONE individual who ended up actively leading the fight for the abolition of slavery (beginning with the ending of the slave trade), I would suggest one or the other of the following, both of whose "campaigns" began in the 1760s (independently, though they ended up later doing some work together).

ANTHONY BENEZET
- of a French Huegenot family that fled to London, then came to Philadelphia, became a Quaker. His role in the anti-slavery cause was especially due to his WRITINGS. Indeed, Thomas Clarkson (as well on John Wesley and others in England) credited Benezet's writings as being the major influence that won them to the cause.

There is much material available on Benezet, which would make him an easy study.
For a start:
http://www.dinsdoc.com/woodson-3.htm
http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/benezet.htm

GRANVILLE SHARP
- fought legal battles to free slaves, most famously involved in the "Somersett" case, as a result of which slavery was declared in Britain itself. He was seen by Clarkson, Wesley and others as the father of the British abolition movement.
start with:
http://www.brycchancarey.com/abolition/sharp.htm

A recent book on this case, and Sharp's work (a very good read) is *Though The Heavens May Fall: The Landmark Trial That Led To The End Of Human Slavery* by Steven M. Wise (2005)

(The title is based on the judge's statement that he had to do this --the right thing legally-- no matter the consequences.)

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There is also much available on the growth of the anti-slavery sentiment in the late 17th to mid-18th century (esp Quakers), including several key individuals --

Here is a general picture of the growth of the movement, esp. in the American colonies:
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=45
http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=s&p=l&a=c&ID=1388&o=

"Antislavery Before the Revolutionary War" by Sylvia R. Frey
http://www.historynow.org/09_2005/historian2.html

See also the Preface to Thomas Clarkson's key publication, "An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African Translated from a Latin Dissertation, Which Was Honoured with the First Prize in the University of Cambridge, for the Year 1785, with Additions"
http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/0/6/1/10611/10611.htm

Here is some material on key events and individuals --

1688 - four Mennonite** Quakers in Germantown (now part of Philadelphia) raise the issue and ask for a response. (This effort, unfortuanately, comes to nothing). The text of their petition:
"A Minute Against Slavery, Addressed to Germantown Monthly Meeting" 1688.
[their names: Garret henderich, Derick up de graeff, Francis daniell Pastorius, and Abraham up Den graef]
http://www.qhpress.org/texts/oldqwhp/as-1688.htm
** that is, Germans, as their names suggest

Benjamin Lay -vocal Quaker opponent of slavery very active in the 1730s
http://antislavery.eserver.org/religious/allslavekeepersfinal
http://famousamericans.net/benjaminlay/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Lay

John Woolman (essays published beginning in 1754) -- see the Sylvia Fry article above

James Ramsey - important British clergyman writing against slavery in the 1760s (one of the two key British people --along with Sharp-- whom Clarkson credits in his preface). His writings, along with Thomas Clarkson's, have been regarded the most influential in helping end the British slave trade in 1807
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ramsay_(abolitionist)

Answer 2

Abolitionism was started first in Britain as early as the late 18th century. Quakers in that area formed a political union to oppose slavery but it is unclear who was the first to think of the idea. However, "on 17 June 1783 the issue was formally brought to government by Sir Cecil Wray (Member of Parliament for Retford)."