William Savery

William Savery
Born	July 14, 1750 Philadelphia
Died	June 19, 1804 (aged 53) Philadelphia
Nationality	American
Occupation	Tanner, Currier
Known for	Traveling Quaker minister, Abolitionist, Defender of Native Americans

William Savery (July 14, 1750 - June 19, 1804) was an American Quaker, an active preacher, an abolitionist and a defender of the rights of Native Americans.

In 1798, during his traveling ministry to Europe, he preached at a Quaker meeting for worship in Norwich, England, which was attended by Elizabeth Fry and this inspired her to follow a deeper Quakerism by working for the poor, the sick, and for radical prison reform.

William Savery, Jr. was the son of Philadelphia cabinetmaker William Savery and his wife Mary Peters, both devout Quakers. He received a Quaker education, and was apprenticed as a tanner. Following the completion of his apprenticeship his faith lapsed. Then, in 1778, following a meeting for burial at the Merion Friends Meeting House, Merion, Pennsylvania, he experienced a deep religious transformation that changed his life. He married a religious fellow-Quaker, Sarah Evans, that year and in 1781 he was acknowledged as a minister.

In 1783, he was a signatory to the Quaker Anti-Slavery Petition.

Since the founding of Pennsylvania by the followers of William Penn, the Native American peoples perceived that they were treated by Quakers universally, without violence and with equality, justice and respect. Consequently, in the negotiation of treaties with the US government, Native American tribes often asked for the equitable presence of Quakers, both as advisers and mediators.

Savery took part in two important missions of this nature. The setting for his involvement was that in December, 1792, the Quaker meetings in Philadelphia had addressed an urgent letter to President Washington asking him to take prompt and just measures to terminate the American Indian Wars.

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