Westminster Abbey politicians, doctors and scientists such as Isaac Newton, buried on 4 April 1727, Charles Darwin, buried on 26 April 1882, and Stephen Hawking, buried on 15 June 2018. Another was William Wilberforce who led the movement to abolish slavery in the United Kingdom and the Plantations, buried on 3 August 1833. Wilberforce was buried in the north transept, close to his friend, the former Prime Minister, William Pitt. During the early 20th century it became increasingly common to bury cremated remains rather than coffins in the abbey. In 1905 the actor Sir Henry Irving was cremated and his ashes buried
Percy Freke (politician) in May 1707. He married his second cousin Elizabeth, the daughter of Ralph Freke of Hannington, Wiltshire, in a secret ceremony in 1672, and publicly in 1673 at St Margaret's, Westminster. Their only son, Ralph, named after Elizabeth's father, was born shortly after; he followed his father into politics and was created a baronet in 1713. Elizabeth died at age 69 or 73 on 7 April 1714, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, where her two sisters, Judith and Frances, were also later buried. Percy Freke (politician) Percy Freke (died May 1707) was an Irish politician. His first name is