The Society for the Education of Africans was an English abolitionist organisation which provided for the education of the sons of prominent Africans in the first decade of the nineteenth century. The Society was led by the Clapham Sect, and founded the African Academy in Clapham in 1799. Soon twenty boys and four girls arrived in

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most dens ...

from

Freetown Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean and is located in the Western Area of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and p ...

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierra ...

and were placed in the stewardship of Zachary Macaulay. The society also had a significant overlap with the

Church Mission Society The Church Mission Society (CMS), formerly known as the Church Missionary Society, is a British mission society working with the Christians around the world. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted over nine thousand men and women to serve as mission ...

, which was also founded in 1799, under the name of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East. The concept was first formulated by John Campbell who recorded his thoughts of 1796 thus: :"Might we not bring over Africa to England; educate her; when some through grace and gospel might be converted, and sent back to Africa,-if not any converted, yet they might help to spread civilization, so all would not be lost" Campbell's original plan was to set up the school in Edinburgh, and he proceeded to discuss the matter with various friends there, who approved of it. Then he raised the proposal with various members of the Clapham Sect, receiving approval from

William Wilberforce William Wilberforce (24 August 175929 July 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780, eventually becom ...

and Henry Thornton. However, when he entered into more details discussion with

Charles Grant Charles or Charlie Grant may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Charles Jameson Grant (), American editorial cartoonist * Charles L. Grant (1942–2006), American novelist * Charles Grant (actor) (born 1957), American actor * Charles Grant (dancer ...

, Grant recommended the plan be deferred until after the war with France was over. Campbell raised the proposal with Robert Haldane, the evangelical philanthropist, who agreed to fund the scheme.

References

{{reflist Abolitionism in the United Kingdom Christianity and slavery 1799 establishments in Great Britain