William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce (21 July 1798 – 26 May 1879) was a British lawyer, the eldest son of William Wilberforce. He was briefly a Member of Parliament in 1837–38.

Life Wilberforce was born in Clapham on 21 July 1798 to William Wilberforce, a member of Parliament and prominent abolitionist campaigner, and his wife Barbara Wilberforce. He was their eldest child. He was educated at a school in Cambridgeshire before attending Trinity College, Cambridge in 1817–1820, and was then admitted to study at the Middle Temple. He was called to the Bar in 1825.

In 1850, Wilberforce converted to Catholicism, Four years later, a third brother, Robert, would also resign his Anglican archdeaconry and follow them.

Family

Wilberforce married in 1820 Mary Frances Owen, daughter of John Owen (1766–1822).