The influential figure in abolishing the slave trade in the British Empire was William Wilberforce. A prominent member of Parliament and a dedicated abolitionist, he leveraged his political influence and social networks to advocate for the end of the slave trade. His tireless campaigning, including the founding of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1787, helped bring public awareness to the inhumane conditions of the transatlantic slave trade. Wilberforce's efforts culminated in the passage of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807, marking a significant milestone in the fight for human rights.