Notes

In London, Thomas Clarkson met other people who wanted to stop the Slave Trade. He added to his essay and, in June 1786, it was published. The essay was read by lots of people and Clarkson became a well-known figure. In May 1787, Clarkson and 11 other men set up the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The society was able to persuade William Wilberforce, the MP for Hull, to speak out for them in Parliament. Wilberforce was able to use his contacts to try and set up a Parliamentary investigation into the Slave Trade.


•Clarkson worked hard to collect as much evidence as possible, that would prove how badly slaves were treated. His travels would take him 35,000 miles around the country and make him one of the best known men in the kingdom. In 1787, Clarkson visited Bristol. He met two surgeons who had worked on the slave ships, James Arnold and Alexander Falconbridge. They both gave him detailed descriptions of life on the slave ships.


•Leaving Bristol, Clarkson pressed on to Liverpool, in search of more witnesses. Clarkson had a lucky escape from a gang of sailors that seem to have been paid to assassinate him. Clarkson was alone when he was attacked by eight or nine men, who attempted to shove him towards the end of the pier. Clarkson believed that the gang was determined to throw him into the sea and make it look like an accident. Fortunately, he was able to push one of the gang to the ground and, despite being hit by the others, he was able to break through and escape.


•After Liverpool, Clarkson rode to Manchester. Here he delivered a powerful and moving speech, in which he gave many examples from his own research into the cruel way in which slaves were treated.