Zachary Macaulay (1768-1838) was a leading abolitionist, campaigning to end the slave trade and then slavery. He was one of the founders of University College London, a Fellow of the Royal Society and Member of the Royal Statistical Society and is probably the most famous person buried in the Gardens.
The Friends of St George’s Gardens invite you to An Evening with Zachary Macaulay on Friday 19th October at 5.45 for a 6.00 p.m. start. This event is to dedicate a memorial plaque in honour of Zachary Macaulay who was born 250 years ago this year. He has many links with the area, having lived in Great Ormond Street and other addresses nearby. His grave in the Gardens is not marked. This new memorial is drawing attention to Zachary’s life and work, someone with a memorial in Westminster Abbey but, until now, not celebrated in Camden.
Following a short dedication, we will have actors in the role of Zachary Macaulay and his wife, telling the story of his work campaigning against first, the slave trade, and then slavery itself. There are slave owners buried in the Gardens, too, and the presentation will describe how slavery was so normal and accepted in Britain, until abolitionists like Macaulay took up the fight.
Zachary will lead us through the Gardens into Goodenough College for refreshments and more about his work . The evening will finish with a talk on how Zachary’s experience links with modern day campaigning against slavery, given by Ryna Sherazi of Anti-Slavery International. This is oldest international human rights organization in the world, founded in the year that Zachary Macaulay died.
The event is part of the Bloomsbury Festival. Friends of St George’s Gardens, Goodenough College students and members of the public are all welcome. Meet at the Handel Street entrance, just inside the gates.
You can read about Zachary under Notables.