A study of the abolitionist William Wilberforce concentrating on his private life, his family and the group of Evangelical philanthropists, retrospectively known as the Clapham Sect, who were his friends. Originally located around Clapham Common, the group of friends were associated most closely with the abolition of the slave trade but were also concerned with the moral reformation of society and the extension of Christianity in the British Empire. Largely drawing on family records and the perspective of women in the group, themes considered are those of family, gender, childhood, education, sexuality and intimacy. Focussing on the Wilberforce, Thornton and Macaulay families, family trees illustrate the relationships between the Wilberforce and Thornton families, the Wilberforce, Spooner and Calthorpe families, and the Wilberforce, Bird and Sargent families. A bibliography is provided.