John Murray (abolitionist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Murray
John Murray, by James Oswald Murray, 1848.
Born	1787 England
Died	1849
Nationality	Scottish
Occupation	Social activist

John Murray (1787–1849) was an important abolitionist and social activist. He worked to end slavery and helped lead the Glasgow Emancipation Society.

John Murray's Early Life and Activism

John Murray was born in England in 1787, likely in Portsea. He became an orphan when he was very young. His relatives in Caithness, Scotland, raised him. They made sure he received a good education and religious training.

When he was in his early twenties, John had a serious illness. Because of this, he traveled to the West Indies. There, he found work as a millwright, building and repairing mills, on the island of St Kitts.

Fighting for Freedom in the West Indies

While in the West Indies, Murray met Dr. William Stephen. Dr. Stephen was the brother of William Wilberforce's legal advisor, James Stephen. John Murray and Dr. Stephen worked together to protest the unfair treatment of enslaved people on the island. This experience made Murray deeply committed to fighting slavery. He believed that owning people was wrong and went against Christian values.

His connection with the Stephen family later helped him work closely with the Anti-Slavery Society in Britain.

Leading the Fight Against Slavery

After returning to Scotland, John Murray quickly joined movements working for change. He became a member of the Glasgow Anti-Slavery Society in 1822. This group worked to end slavery in British colonies.

Forming the Glasgow Emancipation Society

Once slavery was abolished in British colonies, Murray wanted to do more. He called for a new group to fight slavery everywhere in the world. His efforts led to the creation of the Glasgow Emancipation Society in December 1833.

John Murray and William Smeal, a Quaker tea merchant, became the main leaders of this new society. They were known as "the soul of the Society." They worked very efficiently. For example, in 1838, they collected over 100,000 signatures for a petition. This petition demanded an end to the "apprenticeship" system for newly freed slaves in the West Indies. This system was still a form of forced labor.

Global Anti-Slavery Efforts

In 1840, Murray attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. There, he presented his ideas for protecting Africa from slavery. Soon after, he became the Corresponding Secretary of the Glasgow Society. This meant he was in charge of all their communications.

Murray wrote many letters and documents to support the anti-slavery cause. He shared information with other groups, arranged speeches, and sent protests to political leaders around the world. He worked tirelessly to end slavery.

Supporting American Abolitionists

The Glasgow Emancipation Society strongly supported the fight against slavery in America. Murray believed in immediate and complete freedom for enslaved people. He was a big supporter of William Lloyd Garrison, a famous American abolitionist.

Murray became good friends with Garrison and other American abolitionist leaders who visited Glasgow. He often welcomed them into his home. He even gave them money for their travel expenses. Charles Lenox Remond, another abolitionist, said Murray's home was "truly hospitable."

Frederick Douglass, a well-known escaped slave and abolitionist, also knew Murray well. Douglass called him "the firm, the untiring, the devoted friend of the slave." Douglass remembered Murray's strong commitment during a campaign. This campaign urged the Free Church of Scotland to return money donated by American slave owners. Douglass said, "While he lived that Church obtained no repose."

Other Ways John Murray Fought for Change

From 1841 onwards, the Glasgow Emancipation Society became more active. They not only fought slavery but also worked on other important issues. These included international peace, government reform, and temperance (avoiding alcohol).

Murray was a key figure in the Glasgow Anti-War Society. He also served on the committee of the Glasgow Voluntary Society. This group believed the Church should be separate from the government. He also strongly supported total abstinence from alcohol. He attended the International Peace Congress in London in 1843 and in Brussels in 1848.

Personal Sacrifice for His Beliefs

When he returned from the West Indies, Murray had started a business selling spirits. However, he later became convinced that alcohol was harmful. He gave up his business and donated his entire stock to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

His strong beliefs sometimes caused problems. He refused to drink or serve fermented wine at a church service. Because of this, he was removed from his position as an elder in his church. He appealed this decision, but the church expelled him.

In 1841, another activist, Nathaniel Peabody Rogers, noted Murray's wide-ranging radical views. He said that if there was a revolution in Scotland, John Murray's name would be remembered.

John Murray's Lasting Impact

After the American statesman Henry Clay died in 1852, James McCune Smith compared Clay's long career to John Murray's achievements. Smith believed Murray had done much more for human progress. He said Murray was a "faithful servant to his own convictions of the truth."

Working for the Forth & Clyde Canal Company

John Murray's family had connections with the influential Oswald family. He was able to get support from his relative, James Oswald, who was a Member of Parliament for Glasgow. Oswald helped Murray get a job with the Forth and Clyde Canal Company.

In 1828, Murray worked as an inspector for the Canal Company. He suggested trying out steam vessels on the canal. At the time, many people were against using steam on canals. But Murray's trials showed it could work. This led to the canal becoming a major route for goods made in Glasgow to reach ports on the Firth of Forth. Later, he became the Collector for the company. This job came with a house at Bowling Bay. Many American abolitionists visited him there.

Family Life and Passing

John Murray passed away at Bowling on March 26, 1849, after several illnesses. He left behind his wife, Anne Thomson. Anne was also an activist and a committee member of the Glasgow Ladies’ Auxiliary Emancipation Society.

They had two sons and one daughter. All their children were involved in their father's work from a young age. Their elder son, James Oswald Murray (1823–70), wrote poems supporting the anti-slavery cause. He also helped print the French translation of Frederick Douglass’s Narrative in 1847. James Oswald Murray was also a talented artist. He drew a portrait of his father in 1848.

Images for kids

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  John Murray, by James Oswald Murray, 1848.