William Wilberforce (1759–1833), the leading campaigner for the abolition of the slave trade, was given leave by the House of Commons to bring forward a Bill for its abolition. It passed through all its stages in the Commons by the end of June but was too late to be considered in session by the House of Lords, meaning that Wilberforce had to reintroduce the measure in February 1805. On this occasion he was defeated on the second reading. A Bill abolishing the slave trade was finally passed in March 1807.

See DNB and The Times, 31 May 1804.