Charles Stuart (abolitionist)
Encyclopedia
Captain Charles Stuart was an Anglo-Canadian abolitionist in the early-to-mid-19th century. After leaving the army, he was a writer, but was notable for his opposition to slavery.
of parents who were of Scottish descent. He was educated in Belfast
and then pursued a military career as his first vocation.
Stuart left the military in 1815 and, in 1817, emigrated to Upper Canada with a tidy pension. He settled in Amherstburg
Upper Canada
and began his pursuit of a cause both in Canada and England. By 1821, he was involved with the black refugees who were beginning to arrive in the area from south of the border. He began a small black colony near Amherstburg where he actively assisted the new arrivals to start new lives as farmers.
In 1822, Stuart took a position as the principal of Utica Academy in New York State. There he met a young Theodore Dwight Weld
who became one of the leaders of the American abolitionist
movement during its formative years. By 1829 he returned to England for a time. There Charles produced wrote some of the most influential anti-slavery pamphlets of the period.
In 1840 he attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention in June. One hundred and thirty of the more notable delegates were included in a large commemorative painting by Benjamin Haydon
. This picture is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
He retired to a farm near Thornbury, Ontario in 1850 at Lora Bay on Georgian Bay
. Any product made from the use of slave labour was forbidden in his home.
Biography
Charles Stuart was born in 1783 in JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
of parents who were of Scottish descent. He was educated in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and then pursued a military career as his first vocation.
Stuart left the military in 1815 and, in 1817, emigrated to Upper Canada with a tidy pension. He settled in Amherstburg
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
and began his pursuit of a cause both in Canada and England. By 1821, he was involved with the black refugees who were beginning to arrive in the area from south of the border. He began a small black colony near Amherstburg where he actively assisted the new arrivals to start new lives as farmers.
In 1822, Stuart took a position as the principal of Utica Academy in New York State. There he met a young Theodore Dwight Weld
Theodore Dwight Weld
Theodore Dwight Weld , was one of the leading architects of the American abolitionist movement during its formative years, from 1830 through 1844.Weld played a role as writer, editor, speaker, and organizer...
who became one of the leaders of the American abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
movement during its formative years. By 1829 he returned to England for a time. There Charles produced wrote some of the most influential anti-slavery pamphlets of the period.
In 1840 he attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention in June. One hundred and thirty of the more notable delegates were included in a large commemorative painting by Benjamin Haydon
Benjamin Haydon
Benjamin Robert Haydon was an English historical painter and writer.-Biography:Haydon was born in Plymouth. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Cobley, rector of Dodbrooke, near Kingsbridge, Devon. Her brother, General Sir Thomas Cobley, was renowned for his part in the siege of Ismail...
. This picture is now in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
He retired to a farm near Thornbury, Ontario in 1850 at Lora Bay on Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
. Any product made from the use of slave labour was forbidden in his home.