William Henry Brisbane

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Reverand Dr. William Henry Brisbane was born Beaufort County, South Carolina 12 October 1806. His father, Adam Fowler Brisbane 1783 - 1830 appears, from Brisbane's own writings, to have suffered from alcoholism: William Henry Brisbane was adopted by his rich childless uncle William Brisbane 1759 - 1821 (whom Brisbane later described as "tho' not remarkably pious, yet one of the most excellent men I ever knew, in whom was combined almost every quality worthy of admiration") and aunt Mary Ash Deveaux ? - 1845. He died Arena, Wisconsin 5th April 1878. He married 28th May 1825 at Lawtonville, Glorianna Lawton (born 15th July 1805, died 17th February 1878) who bore him eight recorded children of whom three survived to adulthood.

William Henry Brisbane was a Baptist minister who became an energetic, deeply committed and increasingly strident abolitionist, at a time when many of his rice planter kinsfolk led lives that were economically dependent on slavery. He therefore had many enemies in his life time and was obliged to move north until he was able to return to South Carolina (temporarily) as an officer of the victorious Yankees in 1864. Following his death, his admirers have become increasingly numerous as his views on slavery have become mainstream in the western democracies.