Richard Allen was born to Edward and Ellen Allen at Harold’s Cross near Dublin. He was the second of fifteen children. An orthodox Quaker, his business was in textiles but his interests were in reform, temperance and the abolition of slavery. He married Ann Webb in 1828.
In 1837, Allen was one of three founding members, with James Haughton and Richard Davis Webb, of the Hibernian Antislavery Association. This was not the first antislavery association but it was acknowledged to be the most active. Allen served as the secretary of this association.
Allen founded the Irish Temperance and Literary Gazette and used this publication to forward his ideas and those of the Anti-Slavery Association.
In 1846, Allen attended another World convention in London. This time the subject was temperance and Allen was one of the speakers. Allen noted that he had been visiting Dublin’s Bridewell prison and considered that parts were becoming empty because of the increase intemperance.
Famine was rife in Ireland and in 1847 Allen wrote letters to America to explain the people’s plight. William Lloyd Garrison acknowledged the effect that Allen’s letters to America had attracted. He estimated that £20,000 pounds had been raised.
To learn more about how abolitionists like Allen ended slavery, book the ANTI SLAVERY BELFAST TOUR!
Richard Allen
