Anthony Benezet

Anthony Benezet was born in St. Quentin, France, in 1713. The Benezet family had a long history of upstanding citizenship. While Benezet's parents were wealthy and had good reputations, it was their religious beliefs that would force them from their native France. The Edict of Nantes was decreed on April 13, 1598, granting French Protestants a good deal of rights in a primarily Catholic country. In 1685, however, Louis XIV repealed the Edict of Nantes. Due to the revocation of the Edict, Benezet's family chose, as many French Protestants did at the time, to leave the country instead of facing persecution. In 1715, the family relocated to London. In 1731, he moved to Philadelphia with his family. At the age of 14, Anthony joined the Society of Friends, better known as Quakers.

While he tried at first to follow in his father's footsteps as a merchant, young Anthony would realize before long that his heart was not in the work. In 1739, he became a schoolteacher. For three years he taught in Germantown, now an integral part of the city of Philadelphia. From there he accepted a position as a teacher at what is now the William Penn Charter School. In 1754, he began to teach at a Quaker school for girls and, due to his good reputation, many of the daughters of the wealthy and influential inhabitants of Philadelphia sent their daughters to his school.

Benezet was unique in his style of education at the time. He was compassionate and understanding, rather than adhering to an authoritarian philosophy of education. He used different methods for different students' personalities. He was the not the stereotypical strict schoolmaster, rarely punishing students for their transgressions. He also made noticeable progress in teaching the deaf. The fact that he taught blacks from his home in the evenings was a testament both to his love of teaching and his philanthropic nature.

It was around the year 1750 that Anthony Benezet's strong opposition to slavery became well known. He began his work as an abolitionist by appealing first to his fellow Quakers, eventually persuading many that the ownership of human beings was a deeply immoral practice. More difficult than influencing his religious community was persuading the broader public. Benezet established an evening school specifically to provide education for people of African descent who had been enslaved. He also authored numerous anti-slavery pamphlets and letters, aiming to reach influential individuals in both America and Britain.

In one of his better-known works, Some Historical Account of Guinea, Benezet offered detailed descriptions of African cultures and societies, countering racist stereotypes and emphasizing the humanity and dignity of African peoples. He also condemned the brutal actions of the Portuguese and, later, the English in the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans. Notably, he published these works at his own expense.

Benezet was regarded by many as a guiding light for mankind. In response to some pamphlets that Benezet sent to Benjamin Franklin, Franklin had this to say in return: "I am glad to hear that such humane sentiments prevail so much more generally than heretofore; that there is reason to hope our colonies may in time get clear of a practice that disgraces them."

Sadly, Anthony Benezet did not live to see the abolition of slavery. He died on May 3, 1784, in Philadelphia. Even after his death Benezet continued to help slaves be educated and liberated. He left money in his will not only for his wife, but he also left money not only for his wife but also for individuals of African descent whom he knew to be in need. The majority of his estate was dedicated to supporting the “Free School for the Black People of Philadelphia.”