The Thomas Clarkson Medal
Thomas Clarkson (28 March 1760 – 26 September 1846) was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade (also known as the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade) and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807, which ended British trade in slaves.
In 1785 Clarkson entered an essay competition at university, St John’s College, Cambridge, that was to set him on the course for most of the remainder of his life. The topic of the essay, set by his university vice-chancellor, was “Anne liceat invitos in servitutem dare” or “Is it lawful to make slaves of others against their will?”
Ultimately winning the prize this experience and sense of calling led him to devote his life to abolishing the slave trade.
We can only imagine that he was motivated by the same factors that motivate students today. Most undergraduates will, after all, be familiar with the experience of perusing a set of essay titles, looking for a topic that catches their eye or flicking through past exam questions and finding themselves caught in thought by one of them.
Most will be familiar too with the moments when their work transcends its basic purpose of a step in the direction of a degree, when something sparks an interest, which becomes a passion.
The vast majority of undergraduate coursework today, unlike Clarkson’s essay, reaches no further than one department and once graded, is left to sit on a shelf gathering dust. This is despite the fact that the work that emerges from this period of intellectual discovery is often pioneering and remarkable. After all, in 1785, Clarkson like the majority of his contemporaries, knew little about the horrors of the slave trade. If it was not for his initial scholarly curiosity and ambition, he may well have remained ignorant to the cause of the abolitionists, and history may have taken a different course.
In researching and reading around this topic in preparation for the essay competition, Clarkson became an abolitionist as he learned more of the horrors of slavery. This one essay changed the course of history as one of the most effective slave abolitionists came to the fore.
The essay was the beginning of a path which Clarkson would follow, which saw him help found the Society for Effecting the Abolition of Slavery and helped enact the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which ended British trade in slaves.
In recognition of this, The Global Undergraduate Awards named the Gold Medal after Thomas Clarkson to highlight the potential of well-crafted research and its power to change the world.
By entering into the Global Undergraduate Awards you are following in the footsteps of this trailblazer for justice and change.
Clarkson’s relentless pursuit of truth as a young scholar ignited a movement that reshaped history. Now, it’s your turn to make a difference. Showcase your passion, innovation, and commitment to global progress.
Apply today and join a network of visionary leaders dedicated to shaping a better world, just as Clarkson did. Seize this opportunity to leave your mark and be recognised on a global stage.
