John Woolman

Born in 1720 in Burlington County, New Jersey, John Woolman was a Quaker minister, writer, and one of the earliest outspoken critics of slavery in British North America. He is best known for living the values he preached, especially simplicity, compassion, and moral consistency.

Woolman traveled widely among Friends, urging people to consider the human cost of slavery and other forms of injustice. He also wrote against the mistreatment of Native Americans, the neglect of the poor, and policies tied to war, and his quiet persistence helped shape antislavery feeling among Quakers.

His lasting reputation rests largely on The Journal of John Woolman, which has been admired for its plain style, spiritual depth, and moral clarity. He died in 1772 in York, England, but his writing continued to reach generations of readers interested in conscience, reform, and faith in everyday life.