John Barton (Quaker) facts for kids

John Barton (1755–1789) was an important English Quaker who worked hard to end the slave trade. He was one of nine Quaker members of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, a group started in 1787. This committee worked to stop the buying and selling of enslaved people. Their efforts eventually led to a big change: the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, 1807, which was passed by the UK Parliament.

Who Was John Barton?

John Barton was born in 1755. He was a member of the Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends. Quakers are a Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs and their strong stand against injustice. Many Quakers, like John Barton, were early supporters of ending slavery.

Fighting to End Slavery

In 1787, John Barton joined the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. This group was formed by people who believed that slavery was wrong and needed to be stopped. One famous member was William Wilberforce, who was also a key leader in this movement.

The committee worked to:

• Share information about the terrible conditions of slavery.
• Gather signatures for petitions to Parliament.
• Raise public awareness about the cruelty of the slave trade.

Their goal was to convince the British government to make laws against slavery. It was a long and difficult fight, but they never gave up.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act

Thanks to the hard work of people like John Barton and the committee, the British Parliament passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act on March 25, 1807. This law made it illegal for British ships to carry enslaved people. It was a huge step towards ending slavery completely, even though it took more years for slavery itself to be fully abolished throughout the British Empire.

John Barton's Family

John Barton was married twice. With his first wife, Mary Done (who passed away in 1784), he had two children:

• Bernard Barton: He became a well-known poet.
• Maria Hack: She became a writer who focused on education.

Both Bernard and Maria were born in Carlisle, England. After Mary's death, John Barton moved south. He then married Elizabeth Horne of Tottenham, and they had a son named John Barton. This younger John Barton grew up to be an economist who studied important topics like poverty.