Samuel Ringgold Ward was an African-American Abolitionist who visited England, and was mainly based in Manchester, in 1853-54. He campaigned against the enslavement of Black people in the USA, Canada and England, and the use of raw cotton (and other goods) that enslaved people picked in the manufacturing industry.

This resource introduces his life, campaigning and makes links between the struggle for abolition and workers’ rights in the mid nineteenth century. It is suitable to be used in Black History supplementary schools or groups as well as for Key Stage Three History (Political Reform).

This resource is part of the Reunited Portico Project funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund to raise awareness of our collection and the history of people in Manchester. This resource is offered under a CC attribution non-commercial share alike license. In any attribution, please credit both the author listed and the Portico Library.

© Parise Carmichael-Murphy. (2025). ‘Samuel Ringgold Ward. A Black Abolitionist in Manchester – Resources’, Portico Library, Manchester.