George Stephen (abolitionist) facts for kids

Sir George Stephen (born 1794 – died June 20, 1879) was an important British lawyer, writer, and a strong supporter of ending slavery. He was a very capable and determined person who always spoke his mind.

Early Life and Learning

George Stephen was born in 1794 on an island called Saint Kitts. He was the youngest of four sons. His father, James Stephen, was also a well-known public figure. George's brother, Sir James Stephen, worked for the government in the Colonial Office.

George first planned to become a doctor and studied anatomy for three years. Then, he attended Magdalene College, Cambridge. Although he did not finish his degree, he was a brilliant student. After Cambridge, he decided to become a lawyer. He joined a law firm that worked for the Bank of England.

Fighting Against Slavery

Sir George Stephen is best known for his work to end slavery in British colonies. His father had married the sister of William Wilberforce, a famous leader in the movement to stop the slave trade. The slave trade was ended in 1807.

George Stephen continued this important work. He helped to end slavery itself throughout all British lands. He believed that the older leaders of the movement, like Wilberforce, were too slow and willing to compromise. George Stephen thought they should be more forceful.

He played a key role in making sure slavery was abolished. He supported the idea of paying slave owners for the loss of their "property." This was called "compensated emancipation." This decision helped the movement succeed much faster than it would have otherwise.

Later Life and Move to Australia

Sir George was knighted in 1837 by Queen Victoria. This meant he was given the title "Sir." After this, he stopped working as a solicitor. He then became a barrister in 1849, which is another type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He moved to Liverpool and worked there for several years.

Later, his law work slowed down. Sir George decided to move to Australia in 1855 to join his two sons. He settled in Melbourne. Even though he later regretted this move a little, he did well as a lawyer in Australia. He mostly worked on cases about people who couldn't pay their debts. In 1871, he became a Queen's Counsel (Q.C.), which is a special title for experienced lawyers.

Sir George Stephen passed away in Caulfield, Victoria on June 20, 1879.

His Writings

Besides writing a book about his life for his children, Sir George also published other works. In 1839, he wrote Adventures of an Attorney in Search of a Practice. He also wrote The Jesuit at Cambridge that same year. Another popular book was Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a Horse. This book used a funny story to explain laws about guarantees. It was so popular that it was printed many times. Sir George also wrote several law books and a book called "Life of Christ."

His Family

In 1821, Sir George married Henrietta Ravenscroft. She passed away in 1869. Their son, James Wilberforce Stephen, became a very important lawyer in Australia. He served as the Attorney-General of Victoria and later became a judge on the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Sir George Stephen's nephews were Mr. Justice FitzJames Stephen and Leslie Stephen. They were the sons of his brother, Sir James Stephen.