Anthony Benezet having received from his father a liberal education, served an apprenticeship in an eminent mercantile house in London.  In 1731, however, he removed with his family to Philadelphia, where he joined in profession with the Quakers.  His three brothers then engaged in trade, and made considerable pecuniary acquisitions in it.  He himself might have partaken both of their concerns and of their prosperity; but he did not feel himself at liberty to embark in their undertakings.  He considered the accumulation of wealth as of no importance, when compared with the enjoyment of doing good; and he chose the humble situation of a schoolmaster, as according best with this notion, believing, that by endeavouring to train up youth in knowledge and virtue, he should become more extensively useful than in any other way to his fellow-creatures.

He had not been long in his new situation, before he manifested such an uprightness of conduct, such a courtesy of manners, such a purity of intention, and such a spirit of benevolence, that he attracted the notice, and gained the good opinion, of the inhabitants among whom he lived.  He had ready access to them, in consequence, upon all occasions; and, if there were any whom he failed to influence at any of these times, he never went away without the possession of their respect.

In the year 1756, when a considerable number of French families were removed from Acadia into Pennsylvania, on account of some political suspicions, he felt deeply interested about them.  In a country where few understood their language, they were wretched and helpless; but Anthony Benezet endeavoured to soften the rigour of their situation, by his kind attention towards them.  He exerted himself, also, in their behalf, by procuring many contributions for them, which, by the consent of his fellow-citizens, were intrusted to his care.

As the principle of benevolence, when duly cultivated, brings forth fresh shoots, and becomes enlarged, so we find this amiable person extending the sphere of his usefulness by becoming an advocate for the oppressed African race.  For this service he seems to have been peculiarly qualified.  Indeed, as in all great works, a variety of talents is necessary to bring them to perfection, so Providence seems to prepare different men as instruments, with dispositions and qualifications so various, that each, in pursuing that line which seems to suit him best, contributes to furnish those parts which, when put together, make up a complete whole.  In this point of view, John Woolman found in Anthony Benezet the coadjutor whom, of all others, the cause required.  The former had occupied himself principally on the subject of slavery.  The latter went to the root of the evil, and more frequently attacked the trade.  The former chiefly confined his labours to America, and chiefly to those of his own society there.  The latter, when he wrote, did not write for America only, but for Europe also, and endeavoured to spread a knowledge and hatred of the traffic through the great society of the world.