Most people would find it tough to lobby for a cause after a few defeats.

Then there was William Wilberforce (1759-1833), whose life inspired the recent movie "American Grace." He overcame two decades of rejection to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.

The Parliament member faced harsh criticism, even threats, during his crusade. But he continued researching the slave business and put forth his bill every year. Nothing would stand in his way until he was able to improve others' lives.

Courage and tenacity were two qualities that helped him achieve his goals, says Lon Fendall, director of the Center for Global Studies and the Center for Peace and Justice at George Fox University in Oregon.

"Once he had chosen slavery as his cause, along with some other social reforms, no matter how intense the opposition, he was able to stay focused and to keep his eyes on the goal of first ending the slave trade and then slavery itself," he said. "Whether in business or politics, we should admire that kind of focus and persistence."

Wilberforce wasn't always so serious. Born to a well-to-do merchant family in Hull, England, his early years were filled with suppers, parties and other social events. He tended to neglect his studies, but still did fine in school.

Teachers and peers noticed his sharp wit and eloquent speaking skills, which helped him become the life of every party. After college, he pursued a career in politics, which made sense, given his natural talents and inherited wealth.

"He had quick intelligence, charm and eloquence as a speaker," wrote Kevin Belmonte in "William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity." "He had a growing list of powerful connections — many of them friends who could guide him."

Helping Out

Wilberforce became a Parliament member in 1780 and learned the ropes by watching and listening to those around him. For the first few months he soaked it all in so he could become a better speaker.

Over the next several years, he wondered what he accomplished. Yes, he had moved up in his career, but he regretted spending so much time socializing instead of helping others. Amid his new interest in religion, he sought to improve himself.

Wilberforce compiled a list of virtues. He outlined how to achieve them and how to make the best use of his time. He also resolved to read about a wide range of subjects to help make up for all the time he dodged studying at Cambridge.

He made a reading list, then began going through each book one by one. During the next 12 summers, he spent one or two months alone, reading for nine or 10 hours a day.

"He became renowned for reading everything — Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Blackstone, Pope — and for the rest of his life, his pockets were literally stuffed with literature on every subject," Eric Metaxas wrote in his book "Amazing Grace," which appeared when the movie came out the past winter.

One subject Wilberforce researched was the abolition of slavery. In 1787, he decided to lead the abolition effort in Parliament.

Slavery had been on Wilberforce's mind a long time. In a school essay when he was 14, he expressed disapproval of the slave trade.

Traders sailed up and down the coast of Africa, buying slaves. When they had bought enough, they sailed across the Atlantic to sell them. Many of the slaves, who were crammed below the deck with no fresh air, grew ill. Those who died were thrown overboard.

A ship called the Zong brought the cruel treatment of slaves into the spotlight. In 1781 the Zong, which carried 470 slaves, began crossing the Atlantic. Sixty died in the first few months. Given the conditions in which they were kept, many more got sick as they infected each other.

The captain decided to throw out the sick slaves so they couldn't infect the others. This way, he figured, he could guarantee profit. So he ordered his crew to throw out 131 of the sickest slaves the next few days.

By 1783, word of the horrific incident had traveled throughout England. Abolitionists lobbied to free slaves and put an end to the trade. They approached Wilberforce a few years later in hopes he would lead the movement. They had found the right man for the job.

Wilberforce needed an angle to convince the British to stop the slave trade. In his research he found that the sailors were also abused by the captains and often died of the same diseases as the slaves. The annual mortality rate of English sailors on slave ships was 25%.

"Wilberforce knew the appalling conditions under which white Englishmen worked in the slave trade would be a powerful argument for ending it, a way to convince the public and members of Parliament that it was anything but what its proponents claimed, a vital and excellent training ground for British sailors," Metaxas wrote.

Wilberforce studied the abuse of the sailors and slaves and made a list of points to cover. In May 1789 he gave a three-hour-plus speech in Parliament in which he argued for abolishing the practice.

Despite rave reviews about his speech from other Parliament members, his push for abolition failed when put to a vote. But that only fueled his desire to pursue his goal.

Wilberforce continued to collect facts about the slave trade. Though he was physically fragile, he surrounded himself with people who believed in the cause and could help him research.

In 1792 he made some headway, as Parliament agreed to a gradual end to the slave trade starting in 1796. But that wasn't enough for Wilberforce. He felt four years was too long a wait for the poor souls in the West Indies, where slaves were taken from the African coast.

Despite harsh criticism, lies and even threats, he kept fighting for the cause. When he brought up abolition for a vote in Parliament in 1793, it got crushed. Many people thought he would give up — but they were wrong.

"The injustice of the trade was so clear to him that he would never relent, not even at this low point in the spring of 1793," Metaxas wrote. "In fact, one month after his defeat he was at it again, trying a new tactic."

By 1806, at 47 years old, he had considered quitting Parliament, but stayed on to pursue abolition. The next year, at long last, his years of hard work paid off as his bill passed. He was ecstatic, but knew that was just the first milestone in a long battle. Next step: enforcing abolition.

Slave sellers started flying the American or Spanish flag so they wouldn't get stopped by the British navy. With Wilberforce's help, Parliament in 1810 made slave trading a felony. He next sought to abolish slavery in France. He helped bring that about in 1815.

Push For Freedom

He knew that while the trade had ended, slaves were treated poorly in the British Empire. Emancipation would be the only way to improve their lives in the West Indies.

An increasingly tired and ailing Wilberforce retired from Parliament in 1824.

But he still strived to help free slaves. Despite a curved spine, bad eyesight and breathing problems, in May 1833 he gave a heartfelt speech in Parliament in favor of emancipation.

Two months later, and three days before his death, Wilberforce accomplished his goal. The House of Commons passed the bill to abolish slavery in the British Empire.

Though some critics accused Wilberforce of overlooking his countrymen to aid others, this was hardly the case. He helped bring about reform for many, ranging from the poor to chimney boys to prisoners.

BY NANCY GONDO