The Society for the Education of Africans was an English abolitionist organisation which provided for the education of the sons of prominent Africans in the first decade of the nineteenth century.
Soon twenty boys and four girls arrived in Portsmouth from Freetown, Sierra Leone and were placed in the stewardship of Zachary Macaulay.
The concept was first formulated by John Campbell who recorded his thoughts of 1796 thus: Campbell's original plan was to set up the school in Edinburgh, and he proceeded to discuss the matter with various friends there, who approved of it.
Then he raised the proposal with various members of the Clapham Sect, receiving approval from William Wilberforce and Henry Thornton.
Campbell raised the proposal with Robert Haldane, the evangelical philanthropist, who agreed to fund the scheme.