Let This Voice Be Heard: Anthony Benezet, Father of Atlantic Abolitionism

Anthony Benezet (1713—84), universally recognized by the leaders of the eighteenth—century antislavery movement as its founder, was born to a Huguenot family in Saint—Quentin, France. As a boy, Benezet moved to Holland, England, and, in 1731, Philadelphia, where he rose to prominence in the Quaker antislavery community.

In transforming Quaker antislavery sentiment into a broad—based transatlantic movement, Benezet translated ideas from diverse sources—Enlightenment philosophy, African travel...