Benjamin Lay

Benjamin Lay (January 26, 1682 – February 8, 1759) was an English-born writer, farmer and activist. Born in Copford, Essex into a Quaker family, he initially underwent an apprenticeship as a glovemaker before running away to London and finding work as a sailor. In 1718, Lay moved to the British colony of Barbados, which operated on a plantation economy dependent on slave labour. While working as a merchant, his shock at the brutal treatment of slaves in Barbados led Lay to develop lifelong abolitionist principles, which were reinforced by his humanitarian ideals and Quaker beliefs.

Lay subsequently moved to the Province of Pennsylvania in British North America, living in Philadelphia before settling in Abington with his wife Sarah Smith Lay, who was also a Quaker and shared his humanitarian and abolitionist beliefs. Operating a small farm which produced fruit, flax and wool, he refused to consume any product made from slave labour and lived a frugal, vegetarian lifestyle, which continued after Sarah died in 1735. A hunchback with a protruding chest, Lay was roughly four feet tall, and referred to himself as "Little Benjamin".

Lay was also a prolific writer, writing several pamphlets and books which advocated for the abolition of slavery and animal rights. His 1737 book ''All Slave-Keepers That Keep the Innocent in Bondage: Apostates'' was one of the first abolitionist works published in the Thirteen Colonies. Lay developed a hostile relationship with American Quakers, many of whom owned slaves. He would frequently disrupt Quaker meetings with flamboyant demonstrations to protest against their involvement in slavery. Lay died in early 1759, and his anti-slavery views would go on to inspire successive American abolitionists. Provided by Wikipedia