' Portrait of William Wilberforce ' Sir Thomas Lawrence , circa 1828 '

Born in Hull , Wiliam Wilberforce dedicated his life to the 'suppression' of the Slave Trade and the reformation of manners ' After years of political campaigning , Wilberforce's bill to end Britains involvement in slave trading was passed with a standing ovation from MPs in 1807. A further act of 1833 provided for the emancipation of enslaved Africans in British colonies.

Wilberforce suffered from illness for most of his adult life including a curvature of the spine, which resulted in him wearing a metal support. This helps to explain the unusual pose of this portrait, painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), the most gifted and fashionable portraitist of the day.
Despite being in pain during the sitting, Wilberforce recorded that he had spent " a very plesasant hour " with Lawrence. The artist, however, was unable to entice Wilberforce back for further sittings, consequently the portrait was unfinished at Lawrence's death.