John Candler (abolitionist) facts for kids

John Candler (born April 10, 1787, died July 4, 1869) was an English man who worked hard to end slavery. He was known for his efforts in Chelmsford, a town in Essex, England.

John grew up in a religious family. His father, William Candler, was a school teacher. Around 1799, John's family moved to Ipswich. There, John started learning to be a cloth seller, also called a draper. He worked for a Quaker family. Quakers are a Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs and their work for fairness and equality. Even though his school days ended, John kept learning. He studied Hebrew and Greek so he could understand the Christian Bible better. This showed how important his religious beliefs were to him.

Later, John moved to Chelmsford and opened his own drapery business. He worked with a partner from the town, and their business did well. John married Maria Knight, who was also from Chelmsford. Maria was very involved in helping people through charity work. Once John had earned enough money to live comfortably, he and Maria decided to dedicate their lives to important social causes. These included the temperance movement, which encouraged people to drink less alcohol, and most importantly, the fight to end slavery.

Fighting to End Slavery

In 1839, John and Maria began a long trip to the Caribbean. They visited many islands, including Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, Tortola, Saint Thomas, and Puerto Rico. John sent hopeful updates to his friend Thomas Clarkson, who was also a famous abolitionist. These reports shared good news about the future of people who had recently been freed from slavery.

On January 1, 1841, the couple started a three-month stay in Haiti. John met with the President, Jean-Pierre Boyer, who asked about Thomas Clarkson. In April, John traveled to the United States of America and Canada. He returned to England in September of that year. Soon after, Joseph Cooper suggested that John become a special member of the British Anti-Slavery Society. This group worked to end slavery around the world.

Later Life and Other Work

After his travels, John was chosen to be the Superintendent at The Retreat. This was a special Quaker hospital that helped people with mental health challenges. He worked there until 1846. At that time, a new law called the Lunacy Act 1845 was passed. Because of this law, John was replaced by a doctor named John Thurnam, who had medical training.

Books Written by John Candler

John Candler also wrote a book about his experiences.

• West Indies. Extracts from the journal of John Candler, whilst travelling in Jamaica. London: Harvey and Darton, 1841