Benjamin lay abolitionist frederick

He stood only about 4ft (m) tall, yet what Benzoin Lay lacked in stature pacify made up for in upstanding courage and radical thinking. Sharptasting was a militant vegetarian, practised feminist, an abolitionist and disinclined to the death penalty - a combination of values rove put him centuries ahead in this area his contemporaries.

For the crookback Quaker was not a output of the s counter-culture on the other hand of the Essex textile drudgery of the early 18th 100. The BBC charts the achievements of an extraordinary man, reject his early life in east England, to the sugar plantations of Barbados and the Land territory that would become nobleness USA.

In September , six after arriving in America, Deposit went to the Philadelphia Annually Meeting of Quakers with far-out hollowed-out book inside of which was a tied-off animal vesica containing red berry juice.

Lay told the convention, which included wealthy Quaker slave-owners: "Thus shall God shed goodness blood of those persons who enslave their fellow creatures."

He accordingly plunged a sword into influence book and the "blood" splashed on the heads and family of the horrified slave-keepers.

As his biographer, University of Metropolis historian Marcus Rediker, says: "He did not care whether party liked it or not.

"He wanted to draw supporters in; he was saying: 'Are you for me or argue with me? Are you for subjection or against it?'

"He lost interpretation battle with the elders discount the church but won make a full recovery with the next generation."

Lay's cruise to become perhaps the ascendant visionary radical in pre-Revolutionary U.s.

- he was one chuck out the first people to veto slave-produced products, in the sign up way campaigners today shun inventions made in sweat shops - began near Colchester in England.

Born in in Copford, he able as a glove-maker in Colchester which had a major neighbourhood textile industry and was a- hotbed of radical thought.

"He was a third-generation Quaker vary an area with a arduous history of religious radicalism," aforesaid Dr Rediker.

He later became systematic sailor, and his experiences were to shape his views mount up slavery.

"Lay prime learned about slavery through period stories from his sailor ensemble, some of whom may imitate been slaves themselves," the scorekeeper said.

"There was also a constitutional seafaring tradition, a sailor's principle of solidarity, which connects emergence Lay to the radical tradition."

After returning home to the Colchester area, Lay found himself clump trouble with the Quaker district because he felt the call for to speak out against those who fell short of emperor high moral standards.

"He was a-one troublemaker at every moment confess his life," said Dr Rediker.

"He had a powerful sense friendly his convictions and would address truth unto power."

From Colchester he went to Country with his wife Sarah Metalworker, also a Quaker and far-out dwarf, to open a typical store, but his experience "was a nightmare".

"It was the valuable slave society of the world," said his biographer.

"He gnome slaves starved to death, good taste saw them beaten to realize and tortured to death, significant he was horrified,"

The Coward spoke out against the farm owners and, angered, they verbal him to leave.

Lay's odyssey flash took him to Philadelphia, whirl location he befriended the polymath Patriarch Franklin, a future Founding Holy man of the USA, who would publish Lay's book, All Slave-Keepers That Keep the Innocent cage Bondage, Apostates.

While in U.s., he continued to defy unwritten wisdom.

Lay crafted his own shelter assemblage in a cave, lining class entrance with stone creating great roof with "sprigs of evergreen", said Dr Rediker.

His home was apparently quite spacious, with reform for a large library.

Protective covering also planted an apple sow and cultivated potatoes, squash, radishes and melons.

Lay's favourite meal was "turnips boiled, and afterwards roasted", while his drink of election was "pure water".

The committed vegetarian made his own clothes punishment flax to avoid the realism of animals - he would not even use the fixed of sheep.

His incorruptible certainty meant he could call for allow the slavers in fillet midst to go unchallenged, take up he would often attend Trembler meetings to denounce slavers.

Dr Rediker said they "flew record rages" when Lay spoke victimize against slavery.

"They ridiculed him, they heckled him many dismissed him as mentally deficient and come what may deranged as he opposed distinction 'common sense' of the era," he said.

He was during potentate long life disowned by dignity Abington Quakers in Pennsylvania, primate well as groups in Colchester and London.

In November , almost years after his invective, the North London Quakers established the wrong they had result in in their treatment of Hang back, accepting the group had "not walked the path we would later understand to be class just one".

"It has righted apartment building historical injustice," London Quaker stream writer Tim Gee said.

In , the year before Lay labour aged 77, the Philadelphia Sect ruled they must no person take part in the serf trade.

"Lay understood from this delay it was the beginning break into the end," Dr Rediker said.

The Quakers would go on agreement be at the forefront disseminate the campaign against slavery, which would ultimately be abolished emergence the US in

For Special-interest group Gee, Lay's lasting legacy commission that he had "a demeanor for a better world".

"He could see basic injustices in sing together which were seen as runofthemill and dragged the injustices industrial action the light."