Editing William Wilberforce (section)

==Last years==
Wilberforce's health was continuing to fail, and he suffered further illnesses in 1824 and 1825. With his family concerned that his life was endangered, he declined a [[peerage]]{{efn|According to [[George W. E. Russell]], on the grounds that it would exclude his sons from intimacy with private gentlemen, clergymen and mercantile families.<ref>{{cite book|last= Russell|first=George William Erskine |title=Collections and Recollections|url=https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5037456W/Collections_recollections|year=1898|page=67|publisher=Harper and Brothers}}</ref> }} and resigned his seat in Parliament, leaving the campaign to others.<ref name="Tomkins 2007 207"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Oldfield|2007|p=45}}</ref>

[[File:Wilberforce.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|Wilberforce was buried in [[Westminster Abbey]] next to Pitt. This memorial statue, by [[Samuel Joseph (sculptor)|Samuel Joseph (1791–1850)]], was erected in 1840 in the north choir aisle.|alt=A marble statue of Wilberforce, with an inscription beneath it]]

In 1826, Wilberforce moved from his large house in Kensington Gore to Hendon Park, a more modest property in the countryside of [[Mill Hill]], north of London,<ref name="Hendon: Other estates">{{cite web |title=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5, Hendon, Kingsbury, Great Stanmore, Little Stanmore, Edmonton Enfield, Monken Hadley, South Mimms, Tottenham |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol5/pp21-23 |website=British History Online |access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Tomkins 2007 207"/> where he was joined by his son William and family. William had attempted a series of educational and career paths, and a venture into farming in 1830 led to huge losses, which his father repaid in full, despite offers from others to assist. This left Wilberforce with little income, and he was obliged to let his home and spend the rest of his life visiting family members and friends.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|p=494}}</ref> He continued his support for the anti-slavery cause, including attending and chairing meetings of the Anti-Slavery Society.<ref>{{Harvnb|Tomkins|2007|p=213}}</ref> Wilberforce approved of the 1830 election victory of the more progressive Whigs, though he was concerned about the implications of their Reform Bill which proposed the redistribution of parliamentary seats towards newer towns and cities and an extension of the franchise.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|p=498}}</ref>

In 1833, Wilberforce's health declined further and he suffered a severe attack of [[influenza]] from which he never fully recovered.<ref name="Wolffe2009" /> He made a final anti-slavery speech in April 1833 at a public meeting in [[Maidstone]], Kent.<ref>{{Harvnb|Tomkins|2007|p=217}}</ref> The following month, the Whig government introduced the [[Slavery Abolition Act 1833|Bill for the Abolition of Slavery]], formally saluting Wilberforce in the process.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|pp=498–499}}</ref> On 26 July 1833, Wilberforce heard of government concessions that guaranteed the passing of the Bill for the Abolition of Slavery.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|p=502}}</ref> The following day he grew much weaker, and he died early on the morning of 29 July at his cousin's house in [[Cadogan Place]], London.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pollock|1977|p=308}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|pp=502–503}}</ref>

=== Funeral ===
Wilberforce had left instructions that he be buried with his sister and daughter at [[The Old Church (Stoke Newington)|St Mary's Church]], [[Stoke Newington]], just north of London. However, the leading members of both Houses of Parliament urged that he be honoured with a burial in [[Westminster Abbey]]. The family agreed and, on 3 August 1833, Wilberforce was buried in the north transept, close to his friend William Pitt.<ref>{{citation|author-link=Arthur Penrhyn Stanley|last=Stanley|first= A. P.|title=Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey|location=London|publisher= [[John Murray (publishing house)|John Murray]]|date= 1882|page=248|mode=cs2}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|p=304}}</ref> The funeral was attended by many Members of Parliament, as well as by members of the public. The pallbearers included the [[Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh|Duke of Gloucester]], the Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham, and the Speaker of the House of Commons [[Charles Manners-Sutton, 1st Viscount Canterbury|Charles Manners-Sutton]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Hague|2007|p=504}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Pollock|1977|pp=308–309}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title=Funeral of the Late Mr. Wilberforce  | newspaper=[[The Times]]  | pages=3, col. C  | date=5 August 1833}}</ref> While tributes were paid and Wilberforce was laid to rest, both Houses of Parliament suspended their business as a mark of respect.<ref>{{Harvnb|Tomkins|2007|p=223}}</ref>