Subject

Anti-slavery campaigner. Born St James Street, Piccadilly but brought up in Romford. 1769 went to work in Bengal where he was one of the first to learn a number of the local languages. Like many he had an Indian mistress by whom he had two children. 1790 he returned to England and married but was asked to return to India as Governor-General and he served in that role until 1798. On his return to England he settled in Clapham and took on the job of first president of the British and Foreign Bible Society. He was involved with the Clapham Sect and their anti-slavery campaign. 1808 moved to 4 Portman Square where he died.