William wilberforce biography ks2

William Wilberforce was born in 1759 in Hull, East Yorkshire.

He attended Cambridge University, where he became friends with the future prime minister, William Pitt the Younger.

In 1780, aged 21 he became Member of Parliament (MP) for Hull.

Four years later he became MP for the whole of Yorkshire and began to work for the abolition of the British slave trade.

Wilberforce's ChristianChristians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.

Christians believe that God sent his Son Jesus to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins. faith had a considerable influence on his life. His faith led him to become interested in social reform, particularly the improvement of factory conditions in Britain.

He campaigned for several causes including:

• legislation to improve the lives of the poor
• education
• prison reforms
• ending child labour.

He was also one of the founders of the Royal Society of th