 In the case of "Knight v. Wedderburn" (1778), Wedderburn said that Knight owed him "perpetual servitude".The Court of Sessions of Scotland ruled against him, saying that chattel slavery was not recognised under the law of Scotland, and slaves could seek court protection to leave a master or avoid being forcibly removed from Scotland to be returned to slavery in the colonies.William Wilberforce, a member of the House of Commons as an independent, became intricately involved in the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.