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George Bourne, 1780-1845

George Bourne (1780-1845), clergyman and abolitionist, moved from England to Baltimore in 1804. After six tumultuous years as a journalist and local politician, he moved to the Harrisonburg area of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, where he became the pastor of a Presbyterian church. Bourne's exposure to the plantation system in Virginia caused him to become violently opposed to slavery. His controversial stance on the issue led to his expulsion from the church. Bourne left Virginia, and after living briefly in several different New England states, he settled in New York City in 1829. He continued work on abolitionist causes for the rest of his life; he was a founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society and a frequent contributor to the Liberator.

Christopher Hill

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