Why was slavery abolished in England?

The judgment in the 1772 Somersett's case freed a slave in England. This began the abolitionist movement in the country. In 1808, it passed an act to outlaw the slave trade, but not slavery. On August 1, 1833, Parliament passed a law that abolished slavery. The law came three days after William Wilberforce, one of Britain's staunchest abolitionists, passed away.