#18thcenturylondon

[ofgraveconcern]

12th May 1789, British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade, William Wilberforce makes his first major speech on abolition in the UK House of Commons. Utlilizing evidence upon the horrors of slavery gathered through interviews and evidence by fellow abolitionist Thomas Clarkson; Wilberforce presented the argument that the slave trade was morally reprehensible and an issue of natural justice. Facing opposition from the slavery trade, and port merchants, Wilberforce presented a anti slavery bill in parliament every year for twenty years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. Slavery was officially abolished in the British Empire with the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Wilberforce died just three days after the passage of the Act through Parliament was assured, with 283 votes for and 16 against. William Wilberforce and the fight for abolition is featured in the historically inspired ‘The Industrial Sublime Tarot’, a unique deck featuring the events and historical characters from the years 1760 - 1848. Prints of the entire deck are for sale at: www.ofgraveconcern.com/industrialsublimetarot1760-1848 Please follow @ofgrave.concern for more tales of the gothic, strange and macabre from history. #18thcentury #18thcenturyhistory #williamwilberforce #thomasclarkson #abolitionist #abolitionofslavery #slaveryhistory #18thcenturylondon #sevenofpentacles #antislavery #britishempire #19thcentury #19thcenturyhistory #houseofcommons #housesofparliament #tarotillustration #tarotart #tarotartist #tarotartistsofinstagram #tarotcardsdeck #historicaltarot #tarotdrawing #historicalillustration #britishhistory #ukparliament #onthisdayinhistory #thisweekinhistory #historylovers #historyfacts #historyoflondon https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3PcWenZfi/?igshid=1e80jqlk033g5

[ofgraveconcern]

16th November 1724, hanging of English thief Jack Sheppard or "Honest Jack", who during his short criminal career became a folk figure in early 18th century London. Born into poverty Sheppard began working as a carpenter's assistant, but quickly turned to theft and housebreaking. He was arrested five times in 1724, and escaped four times from the prison. His two year stint of crime, arrest and escape, made him a local folk hero to the poor. He is also Known for his association with highwayman Joseph "Blueskin" Blake, who was hanged on the 11th November, and the "Thief-Taker General" Jonathan Wild. Wild was both a thief himself and also a self styled crime fighter, secretly running a gang of thieves and then when the opportunity presented itself, turning in these same thieves to the authorities the next day, and receiving the reward for their capture. His duplicity was by 1725 discovered and he himself was hanged. Sheppard was caught for the last time, and hanged at Tyburn on this day. His life story and tales of his crimes were sold at his execution, and are now thought to have been ghost written by Daniel Defoe. Sheppard and Wild both appear in ‘The Beggar's Opera’, (1728) by English poet and dramatist John Gay. The ballad opera is a satire upon the corrupt government of the first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole, and the criminal underworld of the period. Horace Walpole, author of the first gothic novel ‘The Castle of Otranto’, was Robert’s son. All art shown is for sale on the website: www.ofgraveconcern.com/crimeandpunishment Where a host of other notorious rogues can also be found. Follow @ofgrave.concern for more tales of dark history, and original historically inspired artwork from 1348 - 1848. #thisweekinhistory #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory #diedonthisday #18thcentury #18thcenturyhistory #crimehistory #highwaymen #standanddeliver #18thcentury #historyofcrime #crimestories #blueskin #knightsoftheroad #londonhistory #londonhistoryday #18thcenturylondon #rogues #londonunderworld #execution #tyburn #diedonthisday #18thcenturystyle #thehighwaymen #highwaymenart #historicalcrime #historicalromance #darkromantic #darkromanticism #darktales https://www.instagram.com/p/CWeItmYPPgG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ofgraveconcern]

5th August 1761, death of London bookseller Mary Cooper, Cooper was one of the first publishers of children’s books in English between 1743 and 1761. Her book ‘Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book’, published in 1744; features the first printing of the English nursery rhyme "Who Killed Cock Robin". One theory of the nursery rhyme’s origin is associated with the fall of the government of the first British Prime Minister Robert Walpole. Critics cited his control of government as a "Robinocracy," Robin is a diminutive form of Robert. Although first appearing in print in 1744, the song potentially is much older; potentially having pagan roots, alluding to the death of the Norse god Balder, or the Celtic Sun god Lugh.There is also a dead robin shown killed by an arrow in a 15th century stained glass window at Buckland Rectory in England, which could refer to the death of King William II, who was killed by an arrow while hunting in 1100. The rhyme also shows similarities to ‘Phyllyp Sparowe’, written in 1508 by the English poet John Skelton (c. 1463 – 21 June 1529). All four designs can be purchased here: www.ofgraveconcern.com/mythology You are invited to follow @ofgrave.concern for more tales and art inspired by dark history. #whokilledcockrobin #childrensnurseryrhymes #18thcentury #18thcenturyhistory #childrensliterature #nurseryrhymes #childrensliteratureillustration #gothicstyle #robertwalpole #tommythumb #18thcenturylondon #historicalillustration #gothicillustration #birdillustration #childrensbookstore #strangehistory #maudlin #gothicpoem #robinbird #mothergoose #vintagebooks #vintagebook #vintagechildrensbooks #cockrobin #vintagestyle #steampunkillustration #darkillustration #darkillustrations #printmakingart #printedart https://www.instagram.com/p/CSPVKI_HrF-/?utm_medium=tumblr