Woolman, John (1720-1772)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

John Woolman was born on 19 October 1720 in Rancocas, New Jersey, in British America, and died of smallpox on 7 October 1772 in York, England. He was a Quaker preacher, tailor, journalist, and merchant. He is best remembered for his abolitionist, pacifist, and animal rights advocacy. Woolman was not vegetarian but advocated for kindness, tenderness, and compassionate treatment of all living beings. He was a gradualist rather than abolitionist regarding animal rights; he does not condemn killing itself but condemns killing and oppression without legitimate need. In his writing, he tends to use the terms “creature” and “fellow-creature” equally in relation to human and non-human animals, although the word “brute” is reserved for non-human animals. He considers non-human animals to be sentient and professes compassion for both non-human animals and enslaved, poor, or struggling humans. An active participant in the Free Produce movement, he refused to consume the products of enslaved labor and refused to use coaches when the coachmen over-worked or drove their horses too hard.

PUBLICATIONS