BUXTON, Sir THOMAS FewELL, a man of singular earnestness and force of character, belonging to the class termed "philanthropists," was b. in 1786 at Earl's Colne, Essex. The eldest son of a wealthy family, and early deprived of paternal guidance, his youth was distinguished chiefly by a strong development of animal energy, natural enough to a young Englishman whose full stature exceeded 6 ft. 4 inches. At the university of Dublin, his mind at length asserted its claims, and the new consciousness of needing to raise the family fortunes animated him to extraordinary efforts. His preparatory educa tion had been almost thrown away, but.at 21 he left the university its most distinguished graduate. In that year he married a sister of the celebrated Mrs. Fry, and entered business as a brewer, with an energy which in due time was crowned with splendid prosperity. His warm religious and moral impulses soon brought him prominently for ward as an advocate of philanthropic interests. Prison discipline formed one of the
earliest subjects of his efforts. In 1818, he entered parliament as member for Wey mouth, which he continued to represent for about 20 years', taking a prominent part in every debate on such questions as the amelioration of criminal law and of prison disci pline, widow-buruin,g and slave emancipation. The latter, in particular, engrossed a large share of his activity for many- years, and no man on that side displayed more indomitable zeal and firmness in its advocacy. In 1837, he was rejected by his constituency, and refused ever after to stand for a borough. His philanthropic labors, however, terminated only with his life. In 1840, he received the well-merited distinction of a baronetcy. He died on 19th Feb., 1845. See Memoirs of Sir T. Fowell B. (1848).