Abraham Wildey Robarts facts for kids

Abraham Wildey Robarts (born 1779, died 1858) was an important English banker and politician. He lived in London, in an area called Berkeley Square.

Early Life and Career

Abraham Wildey Robarts came from a family involved in politics. His father was Abraham Robarts, and his uncle was George Tierney, who was also a well-known politician. He had two brothers, George James Robarts and William Tierney Robarts.

When he was younger, Abraham worked for the East India Company in Canton, China. This company was very powerful and traded goods like tea and spices. Later, he became one of the directors of the East India Company. He was also a partner in a bank called Robarts & Curtis. He worked as a "factor" for the West Indies, which meant he helped manage business dealings there.

Political Career

Robarts became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone. An MP is someone elected to represent a specific area in the country's government, the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He served as an MP for many years, from 1818 to 1837.

In 1825, he was a director of the New Zealand Company. This company was led by a wealthy politician named John George Lambton. The New Zealand Company made the first attempt to start a British colony in New Zealand.

Historical Context: Slavery Compensation

After the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 made slavery illegal in the British Empire, the British government decided to pay money to people who had owned enslaved people. This was done through the Slave Compensation Act 1837.

According to historical records, Abraham Wildey Robarts received a payment as part of this compensation. The British government borrowed a large sum of money, £15 million, from bankers to make these payments. This loan was eventually paid off by British taxpayers over many years, ending in 2015.

Robarts was connected to four different claims for compensation. He had owned 566 enslaved people in Jamaica and Dominica. He received a payment of £11,023 at that time.

Family Life

Abraham Wildey Robarts married Charlotte Anne Wilkinson in 1808. From 1827 until 1857, he lived at a place called Parkstead House.