Thomas Buxton abolitionist hero
Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786-1845), a brewer, was the owner of the Truman, Hanbury, Buxton and company brewery. He became the Member of Parliament for the Weymouth and Melcombe Regis constituency in 1818 and retained the seat until 1837. He was a founder member of the Anti-Slavery Society in 1823. Following the retirement of William Wilberforce in 1825 he became the parliamentary leader of the supporters of abolition.
In 1831 Buxton and his supporters were successful in pressuring the newly elected Whig government to legislate to free slaves belonging to the crown throughout the British Empire. However the government were reluctant to legislate for a general emancipation at that time. Buxton continued to pressure the government and was finally successful in 1833 when the government of Earl Grey passed the “Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies; for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves; and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the Services of such Slaves”.
All slaves became free on the first of August 1834. They ceased to be property subject to arbitrary and cruel punishments and with no standing in law. They became citizens, could become property owners and could enjoy a family life.
At that time Buxton was attacked for supporting the compensation element of the Act. However, he recognised that paying this compensation would allow the Act to be passed without further delays being introduced.
Buxton was also prominent in a number of other progressive causes.
He worked on criminal law reform and, although unsuccessful in abolishing capital punishment, he managed to reduce 230 capital offences down to eight.
He was a strong supporter of Elizabeth Fry, to whom he was related by marriage, in her campaigns to improve the conditions in prisons. His image was included on the Elizabeth Fry five pound note that was in circulation between 2001 and 2016.
Buxton was a founder member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1824 (later the RSPCA) and became the first Chairman of the Society.
His works were recognised in his later life and he was created a Baron in 1840. Following his death in 1845 a memorial was erected in Westminster Abbey close to that of William Wilberforce. Other memorials have been erected in Norwich Cathedral and Victoria Gardens in Westminster. Currently a new memorial is being installed in his former constituency of Weymouth.
The memorial is a project of the Thomas Fowell Buxton Society whose patron is Mr Ainsley Harriott the descendant of a former slave.
Sources:
www.thomasfoxwellbuxton.org.uk
http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1833/mar/19/abolition-of-slavery#S3V0016P0_18330319_HOC_4
“Encyclopaedia of Emancipation and Abolition in the Transatlantic World” by Junius P. Rodriguez
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