The British campaign to abolish the slave trade is generally considered to have begun in the 1780s with the establishment of the Quakers' anti-slavery committees, and their presentation to Parliament of the first slave trade petition in 1783. The same year, Wilberforce, while dining with his Cambridge friend Gerard Edwards, met Rev. James Ramsay, a ship's surgeon who had become a clergyman and medical supervisor on the island of St Christopher (later St Kitts). Ramsay was horrified by the conditions endured by the enslaved peoples, both at sea and on the plantations and returned to England and joined abolitionist movements. Wilberforce did not follow up on his meeting with Ramsay, but three years later, inspired by his new faith, Wilberforce became interested in humanitarian reform. In November 1786, he received a letter from Sir Charles Middleton that re-opened his interest in the slave trade. Middleton suggested that Wilberforce bring forward the abolition of the slave trade in Parliament. Wilberforce responded that he "felt the great importance of the subject, and thought himself unequal to the task allotted to him, but yet would not positively decline it". He began to read widely on the subject and met with a group of abolitionists called the Testonites at Middleton's home in the early winter of 1786–1787.
The British campaign to abolish the slave trade is generally considered to have begun in the 1780s with the establishment of the Quakers' anti-slavery committees and their presentation to Parliament of the first slave trade petition in 1783 The same year Wilberforce while dining with his Cambridge friend Gerard Edwards met Rev James Ramsay a ship's surgeon who had become a clergyman and medical supervisor on the island of St Christopher (later St Kitts) Ramsay was horrified by the conditions endured by the enslaved peoples both at sea and on the plantations and returned to England and joined abolitionist movements Wilberforce did not follow up on his meeting with Ramsay but three years later inspired by his new faith Wilberforce became interested in humanitarian reform In November 1786 he received a letter from Sir Charles Middleton that re-opened his interest in the slave trade Middleton suggested that Wilberforce bring forward the abolition of the slave trade in Parliament Wilberforce responded that he "felt the great importance of the subject and thought himself unequal to the task allotted to him but yet would not positively decline it" He began to read widely on the subject and met with a group of abolitionists called the Testonites at Middleton's home in the early winter of 1786–1787