William Wilberforce (born in 1759) was a member of the British Parliament who stood up and spoke up courageously against the international slave trade and against slavery in the British Empire. His efforts and those of others ended slavery in the British Empire during his lifetime.

There is a good movie (and book) about William Wilberforce that was released in 2006.  It is called Amazing Grace.

Wilberforce was a bold Christian who believed both in the reality of the Living Jesus Christ and in social justice. He wrote a wonderful book called Real Christianity. Here are a few quotes from it:

“The very tendency that we feel to hide our faith from the world’s view confirms that we are more influenced by the world’s opinion than we are by God’s.” –William Wilberforce

“Always turn away from the dangerous false wisdom that says, ‘I will do evil so that good will come.'” –William Wilberforce

“When our humility grows, our faith will also flourish; but when our humility begins to fail, so will our faith.” –William Wilberforce

“Nominal Christians are nothing like the real thing. Their lives are cold copies of the reality, faint lines traced by a dull pencil, conveying nothing of faith’s force and grace.” –William Wilberforce

“Unless we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, we have no reason to say we have received that Spirit of Christ — and without it we are not His.” –William Wilberforce

To read about some other truly great men and women check out my top 10 greatest Americans.

when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws of religion, and of God