The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840

The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840

by Benjamin Robert Haydon
oil on canvas, 1841
117 in. x 151 in. (2972 mm x 3836 mm)
Given by British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, 1880
Primary Collection
NPG 599

Artist

Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846), History painter and diarist. Artist associated with 29 portraits, Sitter in 9 portraits.

Sitters

Professor Adam, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Edward Adey, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
George William Alexander (1802-1890), Treasurer of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard Allen (1787-1873), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Stafford Allen (1806-1889), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Allen (1770-1843), Chemist and philanthropist. Sitter in 9 portraits.
Sir Edward Baines (1800-1890), Journalist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Edward Baldwin, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Saxe Bannister (1790-1877), Pamphleteer. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Edward Barrett, Emancipated slave and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard Barrett (1784-1855), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Isaac Bass (1782-1855), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Abraham Beaumont (1782-1848), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Beaumont (1788-1862), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Mrs John Beaumont (1790-1853), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Beaumont (1790-1869), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Henry Beckford, Emancipated slave and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
George Bennett, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Bevan, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Binney (Benny) (1798-1874), Nonconformist divine. Sitter in 7 portraits.
James Gillespie Birney (1792-1857), American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Birt, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter associated with 5 portraits.
Jonathan Blackhouse, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
W.T. Blair, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Boultbee, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Samuel Bowly (1802-1884), Quaker and anti-slavery agitator. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Sir John Bowring (1792-1872), Linguist and traveller; Politician and diplomatist. Sitter in 15 portraits.
George Bradburn, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Brock (1807-1875), Dissenting divine. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Bulley, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Burnet (1789-1862), Pastor of Mansion House Chapel, Camberwell; slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 1st Bt (1786-1845), Philanthropist. Sitter in 10 portraits.
Anne Isabella, Lady Byron (1792-1860), Wife of Lord Byron. Sitter in 7 portraits.
Tapper Cadbury (1768-1860), Birmingham manufacturer and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
James Carlile (1784-1854), Divine. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Peter Clare (1781-1851), Slavery abolitionist; secretary of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester. Sitter in 6 portraits.
Mary Clarkson, Daughter-in-law of Thomas Clarkson. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 11 portraits.
Thomas Clarkson, Grandson of Thomas Clarkson. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Nathaniel Colver, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Josiah Conder (1789-1855), Bookseller. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Cooper (1800-1881), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Francis Augustus Cox (1783-1853), Baptist preacher. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Isaac Crewdson (1780-1844), Writer. Sitter in 5 portraits.
John Cropper, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Dawes, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
James Dean, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Dillworth, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Eaton (1793-1858), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Ellis (1789-1862), Railway promoter. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Fairbank (1771-1846), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Josiah Forster (1782-1870), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Robert Forster (1792-1871), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Forster (1784-1854), Quaker philanthropist and minister. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Samuel Fox (1781-1868), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Eton Galusha, American Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
B. Godwin, Baptist preacher and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Robert Kaye Greville (1794-1866), Botanist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Samuel Gurney (1786-1856), 'The Banker's Banker'; philanthropist. Sitter in 8 portraits.
George Head Head, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Howard Hinton (1791-1873), Baptist minister. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Isaac Hodgson (1783-1847), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
M.M. Isambert, French slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Angell James (1785-1859), Independent minister. Sitter in 5 portraits.
William James, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Sir John Jeremie (1795-1841), Colonial judge. Sitter in 4 portraits.
J.H. Johnson, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Kay, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Keep, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Ketley, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Knibb (1803-1845), Missionary and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 6 portraits.
Ann Knight (1792-1868), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Leatham (1783-1842), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
L.C. Lecesne, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
C. Edwards Lester, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
M. L'Instant, Slavery abolitionist from Haiti. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Samuel Lucas, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Stephen Lushington (1782-1873), Judge. Sitter in 12 portraits.
T.M. McDonnell, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard Robert Madden (1798-1886), Writer. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Joseph Marriage (1807-1884), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Jonathan Miller, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Constantine Richard Moorsom (1792-1861), Vice-Admiral. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Morgan. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Morgan, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Morrison, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
James Mott, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Dr Murch, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John T. Norton, American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), Irish politician. Sitter in 20 portraits.
Amelia Opie (1769-1853), Novelist and poet; second wife of John Opie. Sitter in 8 portraits.
Elizabeth Pease, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Pease (1772-1846), Reformer. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard Peek, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Wendell Phillips (1811-1884), American slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Pinches, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Jacob Post (1774-1855), Quaker. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Samuel J. Prescod, Slavery abolitionist from Barbados. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Price, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
G.K. Prince, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard Rathbone, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Mrs Rawson, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Reynolds (1769-1859), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Sams (1784-1860), Orientalist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Thomas Scales, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Scoble, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Smeal (1792-1877), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Edward Smith, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Soul, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
George Stacey (1787-1857), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Henry B. Stanton, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Edward Steane, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Steer (1780-1856), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Henry Sterry (1803-1869), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard Sterry (1785-1865), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Charles Stovel, Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Charles Stuart, Slavery abolitionist from Jamaica. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Sturge, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Joseph Sturge (1793-1859), Quaker and philanthropist. Sitter associated with 8 portraits.
Thomas Swan, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Tatum (1783-1862), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Henry Taylor, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Taylor, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
George Thompson (1804-1878), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 6 portraits.
J. Harfield Tredgold, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Mrs Tredgold, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Henry Tuckett, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
David Turnbull, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Richard D. Webb, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Samuel Wheeler (1776-1858), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
James Whitehorne, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Sir John Eardley Eardley-Wilmot, 1st Bt (1783-1847), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Wilson, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
John Woodmark, Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.

This Portrait

In 1787 a small, mainly Quaker group led by Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) formed The Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Their cause seemed hopeless as slavery was crucial to Britain's economy but popular feeling was on their side. The French Revolution and the backlash against British Radicalism temporarily stalled the campaign for anti-slavery campaign. The Society's Parliamentary spokesman William Wilberforce finally oversaw the triumphant passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. The Great Reform Act of 1832 swept away many of the old pro-slavery MPs and the final emancipation of slaves in British colonies was effected in 1833. This monumental painting records the 1840 convention of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society which was established to promote worldwide abolition. A frail and elderly Clarkson addresses a meeting of over 500 delegates. Identifiable portraits include the liberated slave Henry Beckford (b. c. 1809), in the foreground, the Irish Radical Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847) and the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845). Haydon later wrote: 'a liberated slave, now a delegate, is looking up to Clarkson with deep interest … this is the point of interest in the picture, and illustrative of the object in painting it, the African sitting by the intellectual European, in equality and intelligence'.

Related Works

NPG 3782: Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 1st Bt (study)
NPG D20516: 'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840) (after)
NPG D23546: 'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840) (after)
NPG D20517: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (key)
NPG D20518: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (key)
NPG D20519: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (key)
NPG D20520: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (key)
NPG D23547: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (key)
NPG D32033: 'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840) (after)

Linked Publications

Sound Guide
Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 35
Cullen, Fintan, The Irish Face: Redefining the Irish Portrait, 2004, p. 188
Ormond, Richard, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p. 466
Ormond, Richard, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p. 538
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 705
Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 113
Walker, Richard, Regency Portraits, 1985, p. 377

Subjects & Themes

Books and libraries
Carpets and textiles
Chairs
Diversity
Events and occasions
Group portraits
Hats and head-attire
Known interiors