Table Of ContentThe Life of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton
The Life of Sir Thomas Fowell
Buxton
Extraordinary Perseverance
David Bruce
LEXINGTONBOOKS
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Bruce,David(DavidS.)ThelifeofSirThomasFowellBuxton:extraordinaryperseverance/David
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ISBN978-0-7391-8337-3(cloth:alk.paper)--ISBN978-0-7391-8338-0(electronic)
1.Buxton,ThomasFowell,Sir,1786-1845.2.Socialreformers--GreatBritain--Biography.3.Aboli-
tionists--GreatBritain--Biography.I.Title.
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Contents
Acknowledgements vii
“ANoble,Simple,TrueMan”:AHistoriographicalIntroduction
toSirThomasFowellBuxton ix
1 “PrinciplesEarlyPlanted” 1
2 Spitalfields 33
3 “AnInnerLight” 47
4 BuxtonandPenalReform 63
5 BuxtoninParliament,1819–1822 75
6 TakingCommand,1822–1829 101
7 AbolitionandItsAftermath,1830–1838 125
8 “AHolyCause”:TheNigerExpeditionof1841 157
9 BuxtoninWinter 183
Conclusion 189
Appendix:ChronologyontheLifeofSirThomasFowellBuxton 191
Bibliography 213
Index 221
AbouttheAuthor 227
v
Acknowledgements
Asclichédasitmightsound,ThomasFowellBuxtonchangedmylife.
Prior to July 2002, my familiarity with Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton was
minimal, at best. My rather basic knowledge of Great Britain’s abolition
movementhadmademeawarethathewasanagentofWilliamWilber-
force,andthathewasactiveinthefinalpassageoftheSlaveryEmancipa-
tion Act of 1834, but I doubt that I could have expanded beyond those
comments. I had long wanted to avoid doing research at all on either
slaveryorabolition,asIfeltthatthetopichadbeenthoroughlycovered.
Yet,onceIbegantoreadofBuxton,especiallythosepagesfromhisown
hand, the more I grew to respect and admire him. In a time when more
and more people seemed incredibly certain of their spiritual salvation
and relationship with God, it was interesting – and refreshing – to meet
someonewhowasnotascertain,notasconfident,andthoroughlyhonest
about his own shortcomings, fears, and beliefs. Here was a man who
wantedtoleavetheworldinaslightlybetterstatethantheoneinwhich
hefoundit,andIadmiredtheendlesssupplyofenergyandthemotiva-
tion with which he pursued his goal. At one point, I seem to be living
through Buxton: his triumphs were somehow my triumphs; his failures
were somehow my failures, too. I couldn’t understand why the he was
not better known in today’s world! Buxton’s intentions, often naïve by
today’sstandards,wereatleastpureandheartfelt;evenhismostresolute
opponentspraisedhimasagoodman.
One thing that Buxton realized early in his public career is that no
authorworksinavacuum.Therewasavirtualarmyofindividualswho,
in one way or another, make it possible for one to produce a book, and
thiswasno exceptioninmycase.Infact,Ihavebeenpainfullyawareof
thedebtsI’veowedsincethestartofthisproject,soIamexcitedtofinally
expressmyappreciationtothosepeoplewhomadethisbookpossible.
Iwouldliketothankthemembersofmydissertationcommittee:Car-
la Hay, Phillip Naylor, and Timothy McMahon. I am eternally grateful
for everything you all did for me as I wrestled with this material. This
was not an easy undertaking for a host of reasons, but none of you ever
lostfaithinme.Ionlyhopethatthisworkvalidatesyourbeliefinme.
I would also like to thank the Marquette University History Depart-
ment, the Graduate School, and the staff of the John P. Raynor, S.J. Li-
brary, for tolerating me as long as they did. Whether it was my rather
vii
viii Acknowledgements
liberal use of the Interlibrary Loan system, or the stacks themselves, I
couldnothaveaskedforamorepleasantresearchexperience.
My colleagues and friends at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside
proved invaluable during this process. To Jeff Alexander, Ed Schmitt,
SandyMoats,Elizabeth(Beth)Brownson,NatGodley,TeresaCoronado,
PattiCleary,JamesKinchen,ReneéSartinKirby,andthecountlessothers
whom I’ve not named, I have been extremely blessed to have had the
tremendousamountofsupportandencouragement.Thankyouforyour
guidance and (tolerance) as I worked to complete this endeavor. Other
friends also lent me a proverbial shoulder upon which to cry: To Daryl
Webb,WayneRiggs,JodyBartleyEastberg,Evelyn(Lyn)Morander,and
Charles(Chuck)Casada,thankyouforyourfriendshipandassurancesas
Ipanickedoverearliermanuscriptdraftsanddoubtedwhetherthispro-
ject could be finished. I want to extend very special thanks to Laura
Gellott for everything she’s done for me, but especially her steady and
unflinchingconfidencethatIwouldfinish.
Special thanks must go to the tireless editors and staff at Lexington
Books. To Erin Walpole, Johnnie Simpson, Ethan Feinstein, and Scott
Lutsky,thankyouforthewonderfulexperienceandguidanceinhelping
tomakethisbookareality.
I would be remiss if I did not thank three other individuals: Curt
Dawkins,StevenGorecki,andRobertDretskeweremysupervisorswhile
IworkedatWeEnergies;itisbecauseofthemthatIwasabletoreachthis
point.IenteredthatcompanyasawaywardArmyveteranwithtwobad
years of college under his belt; I left that company a decade later with a
Ph.D. None of that would have been possible had it not been for their
flexibility with work hours, assignments, and who-knows-what else.
Gentlemen,thankyousoverymuch.
My deepest gratitude goes to my family. My parents, Marvis and
Bobbye Bruce, did not live to see this moment, yet both were aware of
what I hoped to accomplish, and I believe that they would be pleased
withthefinalresult.Mysiblingswerealsoasourceofsupportandmoti-
vation:Brian,Michelle,Synthia,andJeffrey-thankyou for yourcontin-
uedloveandfaithinmeasIworkedonthisproject.
Finally, there is one person without whom this project – rather, the
completed project – would not exist. Julie Tatlock, you’ve been with me
throughout this entire endeavor. Far too often you put my needs for
assistance ahead of your own so that I could complete this work. You
have sacrificed time and a bit of your sanity for me while I cheered,
ranted, raved, and cried over this. My debt to you is indeed great; a
simple “thank you” cannot come close to compensating you for your
love,companionship,andunfailingfaithinme.
Hopefully,Iwon’tletyoudown.
