John Burnet (abolitionist)

Infobox Person
name = John Burnet


image_size = 240px
caption = William Knibb in the centre, to the left is John Burnet and to the right John Scoble - 1840 [ [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?mkey=mw00028# Burnet at The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840] , by Benjamin Robert Haydon at the National Portrait Gallery]
birth_date = 1789
birth_place = Perth, Scotland
death_date = 1862
death_place =
religion = Christian
spouse =

John Burnet (1789–1862) was a pastor in Cork in Ireland before taking up the same position at the Mansion House Chapel in Camberwell. He was a well known "platform speaker" speaking human rights issues particularly at Exeter Hall. He was a leading member of both Congregational Union of England and the Bible Society. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&docId=95266485 The Black Abolitionist Papers Vol. 1] , C. Peter Ripley, University of North Carolina Press, 1985, accessed 27 July 2008]

Biography

Burnet was born in Perth in 1789 and originally joined the army before becoming a paster to an independent congregation in Cork in Ireland.. A neat Grecian chapel was raised in George Street in Cork due to his efforts. [ [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9rblf03SdkYC&lpg=RA1-PA522&ots=tjjI4SzfF0&dq=burnet+camberwell&vq=burnet&pg=RA1-PA522&ci=535,1189,416,68&source=bookclip The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland] : Adapted to the New Poor-law, Franchise, Municipal and Ecclesiastical Arrangements, and Compiled with a Special Reference to the Lines of Railroad and Canal Communication, as Existing in 1814-45]

He came to England and took up a position as paster to another Independent congregation at the Mansion House Chapel in Camberwell. He was a leading member of both the "Congregational Union of England" and the Bible Society, "Peace Society the Liberation of Religion from State Control Society" the "Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishments" [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GvIMAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA110&ots=wJIS-oG3br&dq=burnet+camberwell&pg=PA111&ci=28,131,868,240&source=bookclip Men of the Time Biographical Sketches of Eminent Living Characters ... Also Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Women of the Time] ]

Burnet was not known for his preaching, but more as an orator and speaker on platforms like Exeter Hall. He spoke against the Corn Laws and for Anti-Slavery. In 19 March 1838, Burnet was with Peter Clare, Rev. W.N. Bunting; William Dilworth Crewdson when they presented a petition to Queen Victoria signed by 28,386 females of Manchester and Salford who requested freedom for the negro apprentices [basically a legal nicety. "Apprentices" were nearly but not quite slaves.] in the British Colonies. [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HLUOAAAAIAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA366&ots=BCcc5Sp4D-&dq=%22peter%20clare%22%20%22clock%22&pg=RA1-PA366&ci=137,288,823,88&source=bookclip The Calcutta Christian Observer] , 1838, accessed 4 August 2008] (A similar petition was presented by Lord Brougham, Joseph Sturge, Captain Hansard RN and the Reverend Thomas Scales based on resolutions passed ar meetings at Exeter Hall of "friends of the negro".).

He attended the 1840 and 1843 Anti-Slavery conventions and spoke at the Freemasons Hall concerning anti-slavery. A less than generous account was given at the time of one his speeches:

It was said that his supporters considered putting him forward for parliament but these did not come to fruition.

References