Fowell Buxton

Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 1st Baronet
Born	Template:Birth date Castle Hedingham, Essex, England
Died	February 19, 1845(1845-02-19) (aged 58) Northrepps Hall, Norfolk, England
Occupation(s)	Parliamentarian, brewer, abolition advocate, social reform activist
Known for	Leadership in abolition of slavery; chairman of inaugural RSPCA; brewer; social reformer

Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 1st Baronet of Belfield and Runton (1 April 1786 – 19 February 1845) was an English parliamentarian, brewer, abolition advocate, and social reform activist. He wed Hannah Gurney, sister to the renowned prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, establishing close ties with the prominent Gurney family.

Early life

Born in Castle Hedingham, Essex, Buxton lost his father at an early age, leaving behind three brothers and two sisters. Raised by his Quaker mother, Anna Hanbury, he developed early associations with the Gurney family of Earlham Hall in Norwich. After completing his studies at Trinity College Dublin in 1807, he married Hannah Gurney that same year. His residences included Belfield House in Weymouth, Dorset—where he served as a Member of Parliament—and later Northrepps Hall in Norfolk.

In 1808, leveraging his Hanbury family connections, Buxton joined the London-based brewery Truman, Hanbury & Company. By 1811 he had become a partner as the firm was renamed Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co., eventually acquiring full ownership.

Though aligned with the Church of England, Buxton actively participated in social reforms led by Quakers. He advocated for London's destitute weavers and financially supported Elizabeth Fry’s prison reform campaigns. Elected MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in 1818, he promoted reforms in prison conditions and criminal law as well as the abolition of slavery—working closely with his sister-in-law Louisa Gurney Hoare. He opposed capital punishment and successfully reduced its scope from over 200 offenses to just eight. Additionally, Buxton campaigned against lotteries and sought to end the practice of suttee in India.

Thomas and Hannah Buxton had eight children; unfortunately, four succumbed to whooping cough within five weeks around April 1820, and another later died from tuberculosis. Hannah continued their charitable work by sending toys to missionary Anna Hinderer in Nigeria during the 1850s—a tradition sustained by their descendants.

Abolitionism

Although the slave trade was outlawed in 1807, slavery itself remained legal, prompting Buxton to intensify efforts toward its full abolition. In 1823, he co-established the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. That May, Buxton presented a motion in the House of Commons denouncing slavery as "contrary to the principles of the British constitution and of the Christian religion," advocating for its phased eradication throughout British colonies. He also urged governmental action to improve conditions for enslaved people via colonial correspondence.

Following William Wilberforce’s retirement in 1825, Buxton assumed leadership of the abolitionist cause within Parliament. In 1833, he submitted a petition bearing 187,000 signatures—partly coordinated by Priscilla Buxton—who along with Amelia Opie were among its first endorsers. His persistent advocacy culminated in the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which abolished slavery across most of the British Empire except for India and Ceylon. Buxton maintained his parliamentary role until 1837.

In 1839, Buxton called for treaties with African rulers aimed at ending the slave trade. This initiative resulted in a government-supported missionary expedition along the Niger River in 1841 intended to foster commerce and negotiate abolition; however, severe illness from fever compelled an early conclusion.

Explorer David Livingstone drew inspiration from Buxton’s conviction that "legitimate trade" combined with Christianity could eradicate Africa’s slave trade. Livingstone dedicated his life to missionary work and anti-slavery efforts.

On 30 July 1840, Buxton was granted a baronetcy. His health deteriorated thereafter—possibly due to disillusionment over the unsuccessful African expedition—and he passed away in 1845 at Northrepps Hall near Cromer, Norfolk. He was interred at Overstrand and also owned farmland and woodland near Runton (currently known as Runton Old Hall estate).

Inaugural RSPCA chairman

On 16 June 1824, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was established during a gathering at Old Slaughter's Coffee House in London. This organization later became known as the RSPCA following royal approval from Queen Victoria in 1840. Among the 22 original members were William Wilberforce, Richard Martin, Sir James Mackintosh, Basil Montagu, and Reverend Arthur Broome. Buxton was designated as the chairman for the year 1824.

Honours and legacy

• A statue honoring Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton is located within Westminster Abbey.
• The Buxton Memorial Fountain, commissioned by his son Charles Buxton MP to celebrate emancipation, was crafted by Samuel Sanders Teulon and moved to Victoria Tower Gardens in 1957 after being removed during the war.
• Commemorative plaques can be found at both Norwich Cathedral and Norwich Friends Meeting House.
• A bust sculpted by John Bell is exhibited at St. George's Cathedral, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
• Locations named after him include Fowell Close in Norwich and Buxton Road in Weymouth, Dorset, near his former residence Belfield House.
• His image appeared alongside Elizabeth Fry on the English five-pound note from 2002 to 2017, depicted wearing spectacles.
• In 2017, a permanent tribute was unveiled on Bincleaves Green in Weymouth.

The memorial located on Bincleaves Green:

Family and descendants

Buxton’s influence persisted through his five sons and six daughters, many of whom assumed prominent positions in commerce and public affairs.

Sir Edward North Buxton, 2nd Baronet (1812–1858) wed Catherine Gurney, fathering seven sons and five daughters. Distinguished descendants include:

Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 3rd Baronet (1837–1915), who married Lady Victoria Noel.

Sir Thomas Fowell Victor Buxton, 4th Baronet (1865–1919)

Noel Edward Noel-Buxton, 1st Baron Noel-Buxton (1869–1948)

Charles Roden Buxton (1875–1942)

Harold Jocelyn Buxton (1880–1976)

Leland William Wilberforce Buxton (1884–1967)

Samuel Gurney Buxton (1838–1909), who held the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk between 1891 and 1892.

Edward North Buxton, MP (1840–1924)

Francis William Buxton (1847–1911)

Thomas Fowell Buxton (1822–1908) married Rachel Gurney; they had six sons and five daughters, among them:

John Henry Buxton (1849–1934), director of Truman, Hanbury, Buxton Brewery and chairman of the London Hospital.

Geoffrey Fowell Buxton (1852–1929), Barclays Bank director.

Alfred Fowell Buxton (1854–1952), chairman of London County Council.

Barclay Fowell Buxton (1860–1946), missionary.

Charles Buxton, MP (1823–1871), married Emily Mary Holland; their children included:

Bertram Henry Buxton (1852–1934)

Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton, MP (1853–1934).

Andrew Robert Fowell Buxton CMG (born 1939) served as Chairman of Barclays Bank.

Priscilla Buxton (1808–1852) married MP Andrew Johnston, with descendants active in political and military spheres:

Andrew Johnston, MP (1835–1895)

Fowell Buxton Johnston (1839–1914), army officer.

Writings

• An Inquiry into Whether Our Current Prison Discipline System Causes or Prevents Crime and Suffering (1818)
• The African Slave Trade and Its Solution (London: J. Murray, 1839)

See also

• Travers Buxton

External links

• History of Parliament