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Anthony Benezet

February 15, 2024

Anthony Benezet (January 31, 1713 – May 3, 1784) was a French-born American abolitionist and teacher who was active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A prominent member of the abolitionist movement in North America, Benezet founded one of the world's first anti-slavery societies, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage. He also founded the first public school for girls in North America and the Negro School at Philadelphia, which operated into the nineteenth century. Benezet was a vegetarian and advocated for the kind treatment of animals, integrating these views into his teachings.[2]

Anthony Benezet
"Benezet instructing colored children"'
Illustration by John Warner Barber in a book from 1850
Born
Antoine Bénézet

(1713-01-31)January 31, 1713
Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France
DiedMay 3, 1784(1784-05-03) (aged 71)
Philadelphia, U.S.
NationalityFrench-American
OccupationTeacher
Known forAdvocacy for abolition
Official nameAnthony Benezet (1713–1784)
TypeCity
CriteriaAfrican American, Education, Religion, Women, Writers
DesignatedJune 04, 2016[1]
CountyPhiladelphia
Location325 Chestnut St., Philadelphia
39°56′57″N 75°08′50″W / 39.94904°N 75.14721°W / 39.94904; -75.14721

Biography edit

Antoine was born in Saint-Quentin, France, to Jean-Étienne de Bénézet (later known as John Stephen Benezet) and his wife Judith de la Méjanelle, who were Huguenots (French Protestants). The Huguenots had been persecuted and suffered violent attacks in France since the 1685 revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which had provided religious tolerance. For a while his family had received protection owing to their powerful connections. However in 1715 his father's goods were seized, so, like many others, the family left France rather than give up their religion.[3] They moved first to Rotterdam, then briefly to Greenwich before settling in London, where there was a sizeable Huguenot refugee community. In 1727, Benezet joined the Religious Society of Friends (also known as Quakers).

In 1731, the Benezet family migrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded by Quakers and one of the English colonies of North America. Then 18 years old, Anthony Benezet joined John Woolman as one of the earliest American abolitionists. Like Woolman, Benezet also advocated war tax resistance.[4] Several years later in 1736, he married Joyce Marriott.[5]

In Philadelphia, Benezet worked to persuade his Quaker brethren that slave-owning was not consistent with Christian doctrine. He believed that the ban on slavery in the British Isles should be extended to the North American and Caribbean colonies. (After the Americans gained independence in the Revolutionary War, Benezet continued to urge the United States to ban slavery, and the state of Pennsylvania legislated slavery's gradual abolition in 1780.)

After several years as a failed merchant, in 1739 Benezet began teaching at a Germantown school, then a separate jurisdiction northwest of Philadelphia. In 1742, he moved to the Friends' English School of Philadelphia (now the William Penn Charter School). In 1750 he added night classes for black slaves to his schedule.

In 1755, Benezet left the Friends' English School to set up his own school, the first public girls' school on the American continent. His students included daughters from prominent families, such as Deborah Norris and Sally Wister.[6]

In 1770, he founded the Negro School at Philadelphia for black children. There was a growing free black community in Philadelphia, which increased after the state abolished slavery. Abolitionist sympathizers, such as Abigail Hopper Gibbons, continued to teach at Benezet's Negro School in the years before the American Civil War.

In 1775, he helped found the first anti-slavery society, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage. Eight years later in 1783, Benezet wrote a letter to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz discussing "the cruelty of slavery and his opposition to the slave trade."[7][8] After Benezet's death, Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Benjamin Rush reconstituted this association as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.

Legacy edit

The first anti-slavery newspaper article in the United States was published on March 8th 1775 in the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, a newspaper based in Philadelphia. The article, titled "The Slavery of Negroes in America," was written by the Quaker writer and abolitionist Anthony Benezet, and it called for the abolition of slavery in all the colonies and the end of the slave trade worldwide. [9] The estimated population of 1775 Philadelphia was 40,000 people, making it the biggest city in all the colonies.[10]

In 1817, the abolitionist Roberts Vaux published a biography about Anthony Benezet.[11]

Works edit

  • Observations on the inslaving [sp], importing and purchasing of Negroes. With some advice thereon, extracted from the Epistle of the yearly-meeting of the people called Quakers held at London in the year 1748., 1760

This brief work, written while Benezet was teaching at the Quaker Girls' School in Philadelphia, was the author's first publication to draw on sources documenting the African trade in slavery.

  • An Epistle of Caution and Advice, Concerning the Buying and Keeping of Slaves, 1754
  • A short account of that part of Africa inhabited by the negroes, 1762
  • A Caution and Warning to Great Britain and her Colonies, in a short representation of the calamitous state of the enslaved negroes in the British Dominions. Collected from various authors, etc., 1767
  • Some Historical Account of Guinea ... With an inquiry into the rise and progress of the slave-trade ... Also a republication of the sentiments of several authors of note on this interesting subject; particularly an extract of a treatise by Granville Sharp, 1771
  • The potent enemies of America laid open : being some account of the baneful effects attending the use of distilled spirituous liquors, and the slavery of the Negroes : to which is added, The happiness attending life, when dedicated to the honour of God, and good of mankind, in the sentiments of some persons of eminence near the close of their lives, viz. the Earl of Essex, Count Oxcistern, H. Grotius, D. Brainard, John Lock, &c., 1774.
  • The mighty destroyer displayed, in some account of the dreadful havock made by the mistaken use as well as abuse of distilled spirituous liquors, 1774.
  • Some observations on the situation, disposition, and character of the Indian natives of this continent, 1784.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search". PHMC. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  2. ^ Helstosky, Carol (2014). The Routledge History of Food. Routledge. p. 180. ISBN 9781317621133.
  3. ^ Small, Samuel; Cresson, Anne H. (1905). Genealogical records of George Small. Samuel Small. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  4. ^ Gross, David M. American Quaker War Tax Resistance (2008) pp. 95-96, 174, 178-9 ISBN 1-4382-6015-6
  5. ^ A collection of memorials concerning divers deceased ministers and others of the people called Quakers, p. 327
  6. ^ Vaux (ed), Benezet, 1817, p. 15
  7. ^ The Atlantic World of Anthony Benezet (1713-1784)
  8. ^ Letter to Charlotte Queen of Great Britain, 1783-08-25
  9. ^ [the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, March 8th 1775]
  10. ^ "Largest Cities in the United States in 1776, and in 2076". 3 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Benezet Instructing Colored Children", Africans in America/Part 3, PBS

References edit

 
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Anthony Benezet
  • "Anthony Benezet: biography and bibliography", Slavery, Emancipation, and Abolition
  • Claus Bernet (2008). "Anthony Benezet". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 29. Nordhausen: Bautz. cols. 146–157. ISBN 978-3-88309-452-6.
  • Benezet, Anthony (1817). Roberts Vaux (ed.). Memoirs of the life of Anthony Benezet. W. Alexander.
  • Jackson, Maurice (2009). Let This Voice Be Heard: Anthony Benezet, Father of American Abolitionism. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-4129-7.
  • Webster's Biographical Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam Co., Springfield, MA (1980).
  • Henderson, Thomas Finlayson (1885). "Benezet, Anthony" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  • Gerona, Carla. "Benezet, Anthony (1713–1784)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2091. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Further reading edit

  • Brookes, George S. (1937). Friend Anthony Benezet. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 9781512810660.

External links edit

February 15, 2024
anthony, benezet, january, 1713, 1784, french, born, american, abolitionist, teacher, active, philadelphia, pennsylvania, prominent, member, abolitionist, movement, north, america, benezet, founded, world, first, anti, slavery, societies, society, relief, free. Anthony Benezet January 31 1713 May 3 1784 was a French born American abolitionist and teacher who was active in Philadelphia Pennsylvania A prominent member of the abolitionist movement in North America Benezet founded one of the world s first anti slavery societies the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage He also founded the first public school for girls in North America and the Negro School at Philadelphia which operated into the nineteenth century Benezet was a vegetarian and advocated for the kind treatment of animals integrating these views into his teachings 2 Anthony Benezet Benezet instructing colored children Illustration by John Warner Barber in a book from 1850BornAntoine Benezet 1713 01 31 January 31 1713Saint Quentin Aisne FranceDiedMay 3 1784 1784 05 03 aged 71 Philadelphia U S NationalityFrench AmericanOccupationTeacherKnown forAdvocacy for abolitionPennsylvania Historical MarkerOfficial nameAnthony Benezet 1713 1784 TypeCityCriteriaAfrican American Education Religion Women WritersDesignatedJune 04 2016 1 CountyPhiladelphiaLocation325 Chestnut St Philadelphia39 56 57 N 75 08 50 W 39 94904 N 75 14721 W 39 94904 75 14721 Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Works 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 6 1 Further reading 7 External linksBiography editAntoine was born in Saint Quentin France to Jean Etienne de Benezet later known as John Stephen Benezet and his wife Judith de la Mejanelle who were Huguenots French Protestants The Huguenots had been persecuted and suffered violent attacks in France since the 1685 revocation of the Edict of Nantes which had provided religious tolerance For a while his family had received protection owing to their powerful connections However in 1715 his father s goods were seized so like many others the family left France rather than give up their religion 3 They moved first to Rotterdam then briefly to Greenwich before settling in London where there was a sizeable Huguenot refugee community In 1727 Benezet joined the Religious Society of Friends also known as Quakers In 1731 the Benezet family migrated to Philadelphia Pennsylvania founded by Quakers and one of the English colonies of North America Then 18 years old Anthony Benezet joined John Woolman as one of the earliest American abolitionists Like Woolman Benezet also advocated war tax resistance 4 Several years later in 1736 he married Joyce Marriott 5 In Philadelphia Benezet worked to persuade his Quaker brethren that slave owning was not consistent with Christian doctrine He believed that the ban on slavery in the British Isles should be extended to the North American and Caribbean colonies After the Americans gained independence in the Revolutionary War Benezet continued to urge the United States to ban slavery and the state of Pennsylvania legislated slavery s gradual abolition in 1780 After several years as a failed merchant in 1739 Benezet began teaching at a Germantown school then a separate jurisdiction northwest of Philadelphia In 1742 he moved to the Friends English School of Philadelphia now the William Penn Charter School In 1750 he added night classes for black slaves to his schedule In 1755 Benezet left the Friends English School to set up his own school the first public girls school on the American continent His students included daughters from prominent families such as Deborah Norris and Sally Wister 6 In 1770 he founded the Negro School at Philadelphia for black children There was a growing free black community in Philadelphia which increased after the state abolished slavery Abolitionist sympathizers such as Abigail Hopper Gibbons continued to teach at Benezet s Negro School in the years before the American Civil War In 1775 he helped found the first anti slavery society the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage Eight years later in 1783 Benezet wrote a letter to Charlotte of Mecklenburg Strelitz discussing the cruelty of slavery and his opposition to the slave trade 7 8 After Benezet s death Benjamin Franklin and Dr Benjamin Rush reconstituted this association as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery Legacy editThe first anti slavery newspaper article in the United States was published on March 8th 1775 in the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser a newspaper based in Philadelphia The article titled The Slavery of Negroes in America was written by the Quaker writer and abolitionist Anthony Benezet and it called for the abolition of slavery in all the colonies and the end of the slave trade worldwide 9 The estimated population of 1775 Philadelphia was 40 000 people making it the biggest city in all the colonies 10 In 1817 the abolitionist Roberts Vaux published a biography about Anthony Benezet 11 Works editObservations on the inslaving sp importing and purchasing of Negroes With some advice thereon extracted from the Epistle of the yearly meeting of the people called Quakers held at London in the year 1748 1760This brief work written while Benezet was teaching at the Quaker Girls School in Philadelphia was the author s first publication to draw on sources documenting the African trade in slavery An Epistle of Caution and Advice Concerning the Buying and Keeping of Slaves 1754 A short account of that part of Africa inhabited by the negroes 1762 A Caution and Warning to Great Britain and her Colonies in a short representation of the calamitous state of the enslaved negroes in the British Dominions Collected from various authors etc 1767 Some Historical Account of Guinea With an inquiry into the rise and progress of the slave trade Also a republication of the sentiments of several authors of note on this interesting subject particularly an extract of a treatise by Granville Sharp 1771 The potent enemies of America laid open being some account of the baneful effects attending the use of distilled spirituous liquors and the slavery of the Negroes to which is added The happiness attending life when dedicated to the honour of God and good of mankind in the sentiments of some persons of eminence near the close of their lives viz the Earl of Essex Count Oxcistern H Grotius D Brainard John Lock amp c 1774 The mighty destroyer displayed in some account of the dreadful havock made by the mistaken use as well as abuse of distilled spirituous liquors 1774 Some observations on the situation disposition and character of the Indian natives of this continent 1784 See also editBenjamin Rush David Cooper abolitionist contemporary abolitionist authored book coauthored by Benezet List of abolitionist forerunnersNotes edit Pennsylvania Historical Marker Search PHMC Retrieved 3 November 2018 Helstosky Carol 2014 The Routledge History of Food Routledge p 180 ISBN 9781317621133 Small Samuel Cresson Anne H 1905 Genealogical records of George Small Samuel Small Retrieved 24 December 2019 Gross David M American Quaker War Tax Resistance 2008 pp 95 96 174 178 9 ISBN 1 4382 6015 6 A collection of memorials concerning divers deceased ministers and others of the people called Quakers p 327 Vaux ed Benezet 1817 p 15 The Atlantic World of Anthony Benezet 1713 1784 Letter to Charlotte Queen of Great Britain 1783 08 25 the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser March 8th 1775 Largest Cities in the United States in 1776 and in 2076 3 July 2012 Benezet Instructing Colored Children Africans in America Part 3 PBSReferences edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Anthony Benezet Anthony Benezet biography and bibliography Slavery Emancipation and Abolition Claus Bernet 2008 Anthony Benezet In Bautz Traugott ed Biographisch Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon BBKL in German Vol 29 Nordhausen Bautz cols 146 157 ISBN 978 3 88309 452 6 Benezet Anthony 1817 Roberts Vaux ed Memoirs of the life of Anthony Benezet W Alexander Jackson Maurice 2009 Let This Voice Be Heard Anthony Benezet Father of American Abolitionism University of Pennsylvania Press ISBN 978 0 8122 4129 7 Webster s Biographical Dictionary G amp C Merriam Co Springfield MA 1980 Henderson Thomas Finlayson 1885 Benezet Anthony In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 4 London Smith Elder amp Co Gerona Carla Benezet Anthony 1713 1784 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 2091 Subscription or UK public library membership required Further reading edit Brookes George S 1937 Friend Anthony Benezet University of Pennsylvania Press ISBN 9781512810660 Armistead Wilson 1867 Life of Anthony Benezet Sherman amp Company External links editWorks by Anthony Benezet at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Anthony Benezet at Internet Archive Online Books by Anthony Benezet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anthony Benezet amp oldid 1192708626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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