James Field Stanfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Field Stanfield
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| Born | 1749 |
| Died | 10 May 1824 (aged 74–75) |
| Nationality | Irish |
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| Spouse(s) | Mary Hoad (d.1801) |
| Children | Clarkson Frederick Stanfield |
| Relatives | George Clarkson Stanfield Francis Stanfield (grandsons) |
James Field Stanfield (1749 – 10 May 1824) was an Irish actor, an activist who worked to end slavery, and an author. He was the father of the famous English painter Clarkson Stanfield.
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About James Field Stanfield
James Field Stanfield was born in Ireland in 1749. He lived an interesting life, traveling the world and using his experiences to help others. He is remembered for his acting, his strong stance against slavery, and his writings.
Early Life and Sea Voyages
Stanfield first studied in France. He was preparing to become a Roman Catholic priest. However, he decided not to follow that path. Instead, he went to sea.
He sailed on a ship that was part of the Atlantic slave trade. This was a very difficult and dangerous journey. He saw firsthand the terrible conditions of slavery. After a hard time at sea, he was one of only three people to survive the voyage. He then returned to England.
His Acting Career
After his time at sea, Stanfield joined a theater company. In 1786, he performed in York. He even tried writing his own funny plays there.
For several years, he was a main actor at the Scarborough Theatre. Later, he led his own small acting group. They performed in northern Yorkshire and nearby areas around 1812.
Fighting Against Slavery
James Field Stanfield became a strong supporter of the movement to end slavery. He made friends with other activists, including Thomas Clarkson. Stanfield used his own experiences from his sea voyage to speak out against the slave trade.
In 1788, he published a book about his journey. It was called Observations on a Guinea Voyage. It was written as a series of letters to Thomas Clarkson. The next year, he wrote a poem called The Guinea Voyage. Both works helped people understand the horrors of the slave trade. In 1807, both were published together in one book.
His Other Writings
Besides his works on slavery, Stanfield also wrote about how to write life stories. In 1813, he published an Essay on the Study and Composition of Biography. This book was published in Sunderland. In it, he stressed how important it was to show the good character of people when writing about their lives.
His Family Life
James Field Stanfield was married twice. With his first wife, Mary Hoad, he had a son. His son was Clarkson Frederick Stanfield. Clarkson grew up to become a very famous English painter.
James Field Stanfield passed away in London on May 10, 1824. He was 74 years old.
