George Donisthorpe Thompson (18 June 1804 – 7 October 1878) was a British anti-slavery orator and activist who toured giving lectures and worked for legislation while serving as a Member of Parliament. He was arguably one of the most important abolitionists and human rights lecturers in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Thompson had little formal education and was largely self-taught. In early adulthood, he began a life of professional activism, starting with his role in founding a mutual improvement society at the age of eighteen, as well as his membership in debate societies. This suggests an early interest in self-betterment and the issues of the day. His father worked aboard a slave trading vessel, and his stories of the horrors of the slave trade planted the issue in the younger Thompson's mind from an early age. He recalls the stories that his father told in some of his later writings, recounting his father's observations of the inhumane treatment of slaves.[1]
Activism in Britain
Initially Thompson had little knowledge of slavery, though he had gained a reputation as an able orator. He was hired by the society to try to get slavery immediately abolished on moral and religious grounds, a concept called "immediatism." He quickly took up the dissemination of the Society's creed: "To uphold slavery is a crime before God, and the condition must, therefore, be immediately abolished." In 1832 he travelled to Scotland, where he gained an interest in the abolition of slavery in the United States and other parts of the world. While in Scotland he also met William Lloyd Garrison, who would remain a lifelong friend and colleague, as well as Nathaniel Paul, an African-American abolitionist. In Glasgow in 1833 he debated with Peter Borthwick, who had been appointed by the West India Association to defend slavery.[2]
Thompson was invited by Garrison to visit New England, and this proposal was not only accepted by his supporters in Glasgow but the Edinburgh Emancipation Society was formed so that it too could back Thompson's journey.[3] From 1836 to 1847 he was active in every major anti-slavery debate in Britain, including the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London.[4] In 1847 he was elected to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tower Hamlets.[1]
Thompson was also an advocate of East Indian reform, free trade, Chartism, nonresistance, and the peace movement. However, he was most prominent in his work to eliminate slavery at home and abroad, often protesting legislation that offered limited or gradual restriction on slavery. Favoring a quick and decisive emancipation of all slaves, he was ultimately unsatisfied with the British Emancipation Act of 1833, because it forced slaves to work as apprentices for six years after their "liberation." He therefore used his position in Parliament to push for additional legislation.[1]
George Thompson was an active lecturer, and he willingly pointed out the role that America played in the perpetuation of slavery. He first traveled to the United States in 1834, where he attracted the attention of pro-slavery men, and barely escaped being captured by them after one of his lecturing sessions. His lecture circuit that year was credited with the formation of over 150 anti-slavery societies around the US, and inspired many to join the anti-slavery cause.[5] The resistance to his platform did not abate, and he was forced to return to Britain, via Tasmania (Australia). The Hobart Town Courier newspaper, 8 Jul 1836, carried a letter, penned by Thompson in November of the previous year, intended for Patrick Letham of Glasgow. In his letter, Thompson states that he had arrived "within the hour" at New Brunswick, Canada, by British brig, having "left the United States to escape the assassin's knife". The editor's note adds that attempts to "burn and murder" him had been made in several US towns.[6]
When the Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1850, Thompson returned to the United States, and he was this time quite popular among proponents of abolitionism, now that the movement had increased in size and influence.
He was involved in the setting up of the British India Society in 1839.[8] He was also the President of the Bengal British India Society, which was established in 1843.[9] Bengal British India Society aimed to study the actual condition of people in British India, promote loyalty to the British rule and promote general public interest.[10]
Thompson became ill and traveled back to his home country, where he died in 1878, and was buried in Beckett Street Cemetery, Leeds.[11] While his advocacy of abolitionism went relatively unnoticed after his death, his efforts to effect a worldwide abolitionist movement cannot be ignored. His profession as activist allowed him to make a living by supporting the cause that he cared about, as well as enabling him to make unprecedented steps in freeing enslaved peoples around the world.
Personal life
On 29 January 1831 in Islington, Thompson married Anne Erskine Lorraine Spry. Thompson had several children who survived to adulthood: Louisa Eliza Spry (m. Frederick Arthur Nosworthy), Amelia Ann Everard[12] (m. Frederick William Chesson), George Herbert (m. Marianne Cronin), and Edith. Another son, named after William Lloyd Garrison, died aged 15. A daughter, named after Elizabeth Pease, died aged 6.[13]
References
^ abcdGifford, Ronald M. (2007). "Thompson, George". American National Biography Online October 2007 Update. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
^Whyte, Iain. Scotland and the Abolition of Black Slavery, 1756-1838 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2006), pp. 230-1.
^"Slavery in The United States". The Liberator. 27 April 1834.
^"The British India Society » Britain – India – Empire". arts.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
^Khan, BR (2012). "Bengal British India Society". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
^"Bengal British India Society - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
^Morgan, S. J. (23 September 2004). "Thompson, George Donisthorpe". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/27261. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Drew, John (29 October 2016). "Into the Heart of Bengal". The Daily Star. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
^Wigtownshire newspaper for 4 Sept 1851 reads: "NOSWORTHY, Fred. Arthur - Married 19/8/1851 - At St. Luke's Church, Chelsea, on the 19th ult., Fred. Arthur, youngest son of the late Captain Richard Nosworthy, Paymaster, Second West India Regiment, to Eliza Louisa Spry, eldest daughter of George Thompson, Esq., M.P. for the Tower Hamlets."
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Donisthorpe Thompson.
The Liberator Files, Items concerning George Thompson from Horace Seldon's collection and summary of research of William Lloyd Garrison's The Liberator original copies at the Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Thompson Chesson Scrapbooks From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
Constitution of the United States : 1. Lecture by George Thompson, Esq., City Hall, Glasgow, and a reply by Frederick Douglass
george, thompson, abolitionist, george, donisthorpe, thompson, june, 1804, october, 1878, british, anti, slavery, orator, activist, toured, giving, lectures, worked, legislation, while, serving, member, parliament, arguably, most, important, abolitionists, hum. George Donisthorpe Thompson 18 June 1804 7 October 1878 was a British anti slavery orator and activist who toured giving lectures and worked for legislation while serving as a Member of Parliament He was arguably one of the most important abolitionists and human rights lecturers in the United Kingdom and the United States George ThompsonMember of Parliamentfor Tower HamletsIn office 1847 1852Preceded byCharles Richard FoxSucceeded byCharles Salisbury ButlerPersonal detailsBorn 1804 06 18 18 June 1804Liverpool EnglandDied7 October 1878 1878 10 07 aged 74 Leeds EnglandPolitical partyRadicalSpouseAnne Spry m 1831 died 1878 wbr Children6OccupationAbolitionist activist politician Contents 1 Early life 2 Activism in Britain 3 Activism in the United States 4 British India Society 5 Return to England and death 6 Personal life 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditThompson had little formal education and was largely self taught In early adulthood he began a life of professional activism starting with his role in founding a mutual improvement society at the age of eighteen as well as his membership in debate societies This suggests an early interest in self betterment and the issues of the day His father worked aboard a slave trading vessel and his stories of the horrors of the slave trade planted the issue in the younger Thompson s mind from an early age He recalls the stories that his father told in some of his later writings recounting his father s observations of the inhumane treatment of slaves 1 Activism in Britain EditInitially Thompson had little knowledge of slavery though he had gained a reputation as an able orator He was hired by the society to try to get slavery immediately abolished on moral and religious grounds a concept called immediatism He quickly took up the dissemination of the Society s creed To uphold slavery is a crime before God and the condition must therefore be immediately abolished In 1832 he travelled to Scotland where he gained an interest in the abolition of slavery in the United States and other parts of the world While in Scotland he also met William Lloyd Garrison who would remain a lifelong friend and colleague as well as Nathaniel Paul an African American abolitionist In Glasgow in 1833 he debated with Peter Borthwick who had been appointed by the West India Association to defend slavery 2 Thompson was invited by Garrison to visit New England and this proposal was not only accepted by his supporters in Glasgow but the Edinburgh Emancipation Society was formed so that it too could back Thompson s journey 3 From 1836 to 1847 he was active in every major anti slavery debate in Britain including the 1840 World Anti Slavery Convention in London 4 In 1847 he was elected to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament MP for Tower Hamlets 1 Thompson was also an advocate of East Indian reform free trade Chartism nonresistance and the peace movement However he was most prominent in his work to eliminate slavery at home and abroad often protesting legislation that offered limited or gradual restriction on slavery Favoring a quick and decisive emancipation of all slaves he was ultimately unsatisfied with the British Emancipation Act of 1833 because it forced slaves to work as apprentices for six years after their liberation He therefore used his position in Parliament to push for additional legislation 1 Portrait of William Lloyd Garrison George Thompson and Wendell Phillips ca 1850 1851 photo by Southworth amp Hawes Activism in the United States EditGeorge Thompson was an active lecturer and he willingly pointed out the role that America played in the perpetuation of slavery He first traveled to the United States in 1834 where he attracted the attention of pro slavery men and barely escaped being captured by them after one of his lecturing sessions His lecture circuit that year was credited with the formation of over 150 anti slavery societies around the US and inspired many to join the anti slavery cause 5 The resistance to his platform did not abate and he was forced to return to Britain via Tasmania Australia The Hobart Town Courier newspaper 8 Jul 1836 carried a letter penned by Thompson in November of the previous year intended for Patrick Letham of Glasgow In his letter Thompson states that he had arrived within the hour at New Brunswick Canada by British brig having left the United States to escape the assassin s knife The editor s note adds that attempts to burn and murder him had been made in several US towns 6 When the Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1850 Thompson returned to the United States and he was this time quite popular among proponents of abolitionism now that the movement had increased in size and influence In 1859 with his son in law Frederick William Chesson he founded the London Emancipation Society which strongly supported the Union side in the American Civil War 7 In 1860 Thompson and Frederick Douglass debated the nature of the United States Constitution in the context of slavery Their debates were highly publicized and later published in pamphlet form as The Constitution of the United States is it pro slavery or anti slavery During a final visit in 1864 he allied with William Wells Brown in advocating the destruction of slavery He also met Abraham Lincoln and both supported and witnessed the final destruction of the Confederacy at Fort Sumter in 1865 1 further explanation needed British India Society EditHe was involved in the setting up of the British India Society in 1839 8 He was also the President of the Bengal British India Society which was established in 1843 9 Bengal British India Society aimed to study the actual condition of people in British India promote loyalty to the British rule and promote general public interest 10 Return to England and death Edit 1851 daguerreotype Thompson became ill and traveled back to his home country where he died in 1878 and was buried in Beckett Street Cemetery Leeds 11 While his advocacy of abolitionism went relatively unnoticed after his death his efforts to effect a worldwide abolitionist movement cannot be ignored His profession as activist allowed him to make a living by supporting the cause that he cared about as well as enabling him to make unprecedented steps in freeing enslaved peoples around the world Personal life EditOn 29 January 1831 in Islington Thompson married Anne Erskine Lorraine Spry Thompson had several children who survived to adulthood Louisa Eliza Spry m Frederick Arthur Nosworthy Amelia Ann Everard 12 m Frederick William Chesson George Herbert m Marianne Cronin and Edith Another son named after William Lloyd Garrison died aged 15 A daughter named after Elizabeth Pease died aged 6 13 References Edit a b c d Gifford Ronald M 2007 Thompson George American National Biography Online October 2007 Update Oxford University Press Retrieved 27 January 2008 Whyte Iain Scotland and the Abolition of Black Slavery 1756 1838 Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press 2006 pp 230 1 Slavery in The United States The Liberator 27 April 1834 The Anti Slavery Society Convention Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 1840 Benjamin Robert Haydon accessed 19 July 2008 Born Michael Richard S Rust a minister with a mission Retrieved 8 February 2020 Hobart Town Courier 8 July 1836 pg4 London Emancipation Society Organizing Black America An Encyclopedia of African American Associations Taylor and Francis 2005 ISBN 0 203 80119 9 permanent dead link The British India Society Britain India Empire arts leeds ac uk Retrieved 18 February 2018 Khan BR 2012 Bengal British India Society In Islam Sirajul Jamal Ahmed A eds Banglapedia National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh Second ed Asiatic Society of Bangladesh Bengal British India Society Banglapedia en banglapedia org Retrieved 22 March 2021 Morgan S J 23 September 2004 Thompson George Donisthorpe Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 27261 Subscription or UK public library membership required Drew John 29 October 2016 Into the Heart of Bengal The Daily Star Retrieved 4 November 2016 Wigtownshire newspaper for 4 Sept 1851 reads NOSWORTHY Fred Arthur Married 19 8 1851 At St Luke s Church Chelsea on the 19th ult Fred Arthur youngest son of the late Captain Richard Nosworthy Paymaster Second West India Regiment to Eliza Louisa Spry eldest daughter of George Thompson Esq M P for the Tower Hamlets Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Donisthorpe Thompson External links EditWorks by George Thompson at Project Gutenberg Works by or about George Thompson at Internet Archive Lee Sidney ed 1898 Thompson George Dictionary of National Biography Vol 56 London Smith Elder amp Co The Liberator Files Items concerning George Thompson from Horace Seldon s collection and summary of research of William Lloyd Garrison s The Liberator original copies at the Boston Public Library Boston Massachusetts Thompson Chesson Scrapbooks From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress Constitution of the United States 1 Lecture by George Thompson Esq City Hall Glasgow and a reply by Frederick DouglassParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byCharles Richard FoxSir William Clay Bt Member of Parliament for Tower Hamlets1847 1852 With Sir William Clay Bt Succeeded byCharles Salisbury ButlerSir William Clay Bt United Kingdom portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Thompson abolitionist amp oldid 1129856287, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
