'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

1 portrait of Joseph Sams

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
22 1/8 in. x 30 1/4 in. (562 mm x 767 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D32033

Artistsback to top

  • Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846), History painter and diarist. Artist or producer associated with 34 portraits, Sitter in 10 portraits.
  • John Alfred Vinter (1828?-1905), Portrait painter and printmaker. Artist or producer associated with 21 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Sittersback to top

  • William Adam (1796-1881), Baptist minister, missionary, professor and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Edward Adey (1799-1876), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • George William Alexander (1802-1890), Financier and philanthropist; Treasurer of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Richard Allen (1787-1873), Draper, philanthropist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Stafford Allen (1806-1889), Industrialist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Allen (1770-1843), Chemist and philanthropist. Sitter in 9 portraits.
  • Jonathan Backhouse (1779-1842), Banker and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Sir Edward Baines (1800-1890), Journalist, educationist and politician; MP for Leeds. Sitter in 5 portraits.
  • Edward Baldwin (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Saxe Bannister (1790-1877), Pamphleteer and Attorney-General of New South Wales. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Edward Barrett (active 1840), Formerly enslaved man 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 (active 1840), Formerly enslaved man and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • George Bennett (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Bevan (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Thomas Binney (Benny) (1798-1874), Nonconformist divine. Sitter in 14 portraits.
  • James Gillespie Birney (1792-1857), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Birt (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter associated with 5 portraits.
  • William Thomas Blair (1793-1881), Civil servant of the East India Company and Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Boultbee (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Samuel Bowly (1802-1884), Quaker and anti-slavery agitator. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Sir John Bowring (1792-1872), Political economist, traveller and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong. Sitter in 18 portraits.
  • George Bradburn (1806-1880), Politician, Unitarian minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Brock (1807-1875), Dissenting divine. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Anne Isabella, Lady Byron (1792-1860), Wife of Lord Byron. Sitter in 7 portraits.
  • Thomas Bulley (active 1840), 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 13 portraits.
  • Tapper Cadbury (1768-1860), Birmingham manufacturer and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • James Carlile (1805-1864), Clergyman. 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 (active 1840), Daughter-in-law of Thomas Clarkson. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 11 portraits.
  • Thomas Clarkson (active 1840), Grandson of Thomas Clarkson. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Nathaniel Colver (1794-1870), Baptist minister and 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 (1797-1876), Philanthropist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Dawes (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • James Dean (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Dillworth (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Joseph Eaton (1793-1858), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Ellis (1789-1862), Railway promoter. Sitter in 5 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.
  • Elon Galusha (1790-1856), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Benjamin Godwin (1785-1871), Baptist preacher and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Robert Kaye Greville (1794-1866), Botanist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Cyrus Pitt Grosvenor (1792-1879), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Samuel Gurney (1786-1856), Philanthropist; known as 'The Banker's Banker'. Sitter in 8 portraits.
  • George Head Head (circa 1795-1876), Banker and 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.
  • François-André Isambert (1792-1857), French lawyer, politician and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Angell James (1785-1859), Independent minister. Sitter in 7 portraits.
  • William James (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Sir John Jeremie (1795-1841), Colonial judge. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Joseph Holden Johnson (1793-1884), Vicar of Tilshead and Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Kay (1771-1850), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Keep (1781-1870), Minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Joseph Ketley (1802-1875), Missionary and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Knibb (1803-1845), Missionary and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 6 portraits.
  • Anne Knight (1786-1862), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Leatham (1785-1842), Banker and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Louis Celeste Lecesne (1796 or 1798-1847), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Charles Edwards Lester (1815-1890), Author, diplomat and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Samuel Lucas (1811-1865), Journalist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Stephen Lushington (1782-1873), Judge. Sitter in 20 portraits.
  • Richard Robert Madden (1798-1886), Writer. Sitter in 6 portraits.
  • Joseph Marriage (1807-1884), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Thomas Michael McDonnell (circa 1796-active 1840), Reverend and Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Jonathan Miller (1797-1847), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Constantine Richard Moorsom (1792-1861), Vice-Admiral; Chairman of the London and North-Western Railway. Sitter in 5 portraits.
  • Thomas Morgan (active 1840). Sitter in 5 portraits.
  • William Morgan (1815-circa 1890), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Morrison (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • James Mott (1788-1868), Textile merchant and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Harris Murch (1784-1859), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John T. Norton (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847), Irish politician; MP for Dublin City and Cork County. Sitter associated with 230 portraits.
  • Amelia Opie (1769-1853), Novelist and poet; second wife of John Opie. Sitter in 8 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 1 portrait.
  • Elizabeth Pease (1807-1897), Suffragist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Joseph Pease (1772-1846), Reformer. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Richard Peek (1782-1867), Tea merchant, philanthropist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Wendell Phillips (1811-1884), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Thomas Pinches (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Jacob Post (1774-1855), Quaker. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Jean-Baptiste Symphor Linstant de Pradine (1812-1883), Haitian slavery abolitionist and Haitian chargé d'affaires in Paris. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806-1871), Barbadian journalist, politician, judge and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Thomas Price (1802-1868), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • George K. Prince (circa 1801-active 1840), Doctor and Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Richard Rathbone (1788-1860), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Mary Anne Rawson (1801-1887), 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 (1786-1860), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Scoble (1799-1877), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Smeal (1792-1877), Grocer and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Edward Smith (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Joseph Soul (1815-1881), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • George Stacey (1787-1857), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Henry Brewster Stanton (1805-1887), Lawyer, journalist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Edward Steane (1798-1882), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 5 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 (1799-1883), Baptist minister and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Charles Stuart (1783-1865), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Sturge (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Joseph Sturge (1793-1859), Quaker and philanthropist. Sitter associated with 8 portraits.
  • Thomas Swan (1795-1857), Slavery abolitionist and Baptist minister. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Tatum (1783-1862), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Henry Taylor (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Taylor (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • George Thompson (1804-1878), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 8 portraits.
  • John Harfield Tredgold (1798-1842), Chemist and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Mrs Tredgold (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Henry Tuckett (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • David Turnbull (circa 1794-1851), Diplomat and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Richard Davis Webb (1805-1872), Irish publisher and slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Samuel Wheeler (1776-1858), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • James Whitehorne (1793-1874), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • Sir John Eardley Eardley-Wilmot, 1st Bt (1783-1847), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • William Wilson (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.
  • John Woodmark (active 1840), Slavery abolitionist. Sitter in 4 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 599: The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (source portrait)
  • NPG D20517: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (from same plate)
  • NPG D20518: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (from same plate)
  • NPG D20519: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (from same plate)
  • NPG D20520: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (from same plate)
  • NPG D23546: 'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840) (from same plate)
  • NPG D23547: Key to The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840 (from same plate)
  • NPG D20516: 'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840) (from same plate)

Events of 1846back to top

Current affairs

The Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel divides his own party by repealing the unpopular Corn Laws, which prohibited the import of cheap grain from overseas, viewed by many as causing the famines in Ireland (which peaked in this year), as well as domestic hardships following a bad harvest. Peel, defeated on a separate issue, resigns. The Whig Earl Russell becomes Prime Minister.

Art and science

Ether is used for the first time as anaesthetic in an operation by the dentist William Morton, while surgeon John Collins Warren removes a tumor on a patient's neck.
Edward Lear, the popular humourist and artist, and author of illustrated nonsense verse (including 'The Owl and the Pussycat'), publishes his Book of Nonsense.

International

The first Anglo-Sikh war ends with the Treaty of Lahore, by which Jammu and Kashmir are ceded to the British. The war had been fought between the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab and the British East India Company, with conflict escalating after internal disorder in the Punjab led the East India Company to increase their military presence on the border.

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