BOOK DURHAM HOTELS

Granville Sharp
- Favourite Briton.

Born in Durham, County Durham
Born on 10th of November 1735
Died on 6th of July 1813

Granville Sharp was a campaigner against social injustices, notably as a pioneering anti-slavery campaigner. His father was an Archdeacon and his grandfather Archbishop of York, but lack of funds saw him apprenticed to a London linen-draper. In 1758 he got a civil service job (in the ordnance department) allowing free time for study, and his musical interests. He studied law to defend a slave, Jonathan Strong; won the important Somersett Case; was involved in the infamous Zong Case, and became an abolitionist leader. The idea of a homeland for freed slaves (now Sierra Leone) was his.

More famous Britons here

Contributors: Do you have a site related to Granville Sharp?
Supply some content for this page and we will gladly add a link to your site. Email here.

6074 views since 18th January 2008

Brit Quote:
A dirty joke is a sort of mental rebellion. - George Orwell
More Quotes

On this day:
John de Balliol proclaimed King of Scotland - 1292, Death of Mary Tudor - 1558, Trial of Walter Raleigh - 1606, Pickwick Papers Published - 1837, Livingstone reaches Victoria Falls - 1855, Suez Canal Inaugurated - 1869, Channel Collision Kills 20 - 1953, The Luxor Massacre - 1997
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages