William Roscoe was an English banker, lawyer, and briefly a Member of Parliament. He is best known as one of England's first abolitionists, and as the author of the poem for children The Butterfly's Ball, and the Grasshopper's Feast. In his day he was also respected as a historian and art collector, as well as a botanist and miscellaneous writer.
William Roscoe portrayed by Martin Archer Shee, 1815–1817 (which is on display at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool).
Roscoe plaque, roughly locating burial place of William Roscoe in Roscoe Gardens, Mount Pleasnt
William Roscoe's memorial, relocated to Ullet Road Unitarian Church carved by John Gibson
Statue of William Roscoe at St. George's Hall, Liverpool by Chantrey
Abolitionism in the United Kingdom
Abolitionism in the United Kingdom was the movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to end the practice of slavery, whether formal or informal, in the United Kingdom, the British Empire and the world, including ending the Atlantic slave trade. It was part of a wider abolitionism movement in Western Europe and the Americas.
1787 Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion designed by Josiah Wedgwood for the British anti-slavery campaign
Title page of a published lecture against slavery by Joseph Ivimey
Portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle and Lady Elizabeth Murray, the great-nieces of Chief Justice Lord Mansfield living at Kenwood House.
Ignatius Sancho (c1729–1780), an escaped slave, gained fame as an active 18th-century British abolitionist. He opened a popular shop in Mayfair and mixed with influential people. He was the first person of African descent to vote.
