Historedia
Person

Granville Sharp

Events
4
Episodes
9
Years
1771–1807

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Granville Sharp, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Origins of Sommersett's Case

    1771

    Role: Backer

    1. 1771 · Court of King's BenchHabeas Corpus Application

      Friends filed a habeas corpus application with the Court of King's Bench to challenge Somerset's imprisonment.

    2. November 1771 · LondonKidnapping and Impoundment

      Somerset was kidnapped in November 1771 and forced aboard the Ann and Mary for transport to Jamaica.

  2. Somersett's Case

    1771–1793

    Role: Activist layman and Somersett's real backer

    1. October 1771 · Court of King's Bench, EnglandSomerset's escape and habeas corpus application

      After Somerset escaped in October 1771 and was seized for sale in Jamaica, his friends sought a writ of habeas corpus from the Court of King's Bench.

    2. 1772–1793 · England and WalesLimited effect and continued enslavement

      The ruling did not end slavery: kidnapping for sale continued in English ports, and Mansfield's great-niece Dido Elizabeth Belle remained enslaved in his household until 1793.

    3. 22 January – 7 February 1772 · Court of King's BenchHearings before the King's Bench

      Mansfield ordered a hearing for 22 January 1772, but after an adjournment and counsel's preparation the case was not heard until 7 February 1772.

    4. 22 June 1772 · Court of King's Bench, EnglandMansfield's judgment of 22 June 1772

      On 22 June 1772 Mansfield ruled that a master could not carry his slave out of England by force, a judgment on the legality of keeping slaves in England.

  3. Founding of Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade

    1787

    Role: Co-founder; his position was unanimously agreed at the inaugural committee meeting

    1. 22 May 1787 · London, where the society's inaugural committee meeting took placeFounding of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade

      A twelve-member committee of nine Quakers and three Anglicans met in London on 22 May 1787, founding the abolitionist society with Sharp's position unanimously agreed.

    2. 28 October 1787 (tour during 1787) · Tour of English ports and cities; Manchester speechClarkson's 1787 Speaking Tour and Manchester Speech

      Later in 1787, Clarkson toured England's ports and cities raising public interest, and his 28 October Manchester speech galvanized the city's anti-slavery campaign.

  4. Petition for transfer of Sierra Leone Company amid slave-trade abolition

    1807

    Role: Abolitionist

    1. 25 March 1807 · Royal CourtRoyal Assent

      The Slave Trade Act 1807 received royal assent from King George III on 25 March 1807.

Sources

  1. Somerset v Stewart Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-19
  2. William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-25
  3. Granville Sharp Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-14
  4. Sierra Leone Company Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-23