Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was an abolitionist, civil rights activist, feminist and advocate of Social justice. He travelled to Britain in 1845 for 19 months, lecturing against slavery in the USA.

Frederick was born on a plantation in Talbot County. He was born a slave. His birth name was Frederick Bailey. he did not know who was his father or the exact date of his birth. He later picked 14th February as his birthday and estimated he was born in 1818.

Aged 7 he was sent to live at the Wye House plantation. His mother died when he was 10. Eventually he went to Baltimore to serve the Auld family.

Sophia Auld started to teach him how to read. It was against the law and her husband her from teaching him. Frederick was an intelligent young man and taught himself how to read and write by observing others and watching white children.

He read in newspapers about slavery, He taught others to read which got him into trouble and he was moved to another farm where he was beaten by the slave owner to break his spirit.

In 1838 he escaped. He disguised himself as a sailor and carried papers to show he was a free black seaman. On 3rd September he boarded a train for the north. 24 hours later he arrived in New York a ‘free’ man. He married Anna Murray and took the surname of Douglas.

They settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. There he met abolitionists - people who wanted to abolish slavery. He became an excellent speaker on the subject and became famous but feared of being captured and returned to slavery.

In 1845 he travelled to Ireland and Britain lecturing against slavery in the USA. He became embroiled in controversies due to his electrifying capacity as an oratory and performer. He returned to the USA a free man, British abolitionists purchased his legal freedom.

He also spoke about Women’s Rights. He attended the first ever women’s rights convention at Seneca falls, New York in 1948.

During the Civil War 1961-6 he fought for the rights of black soldiers. When the Soth announced they would execute or enslave any captured black soldier he insisted that President Lincoln should respond- he responded by threatening to execute like for like. Frederick also sought equal pay and treatment for black soldiers.

He wrote an autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, It became a best seller, He later wrote 2 more books about his life.

Frederick died on 20th February 1895, aged 77 (?) from either a heart attack or stroke. His legacy lives on in his writings and monuments named after him.

NOTE
This is just a simple summary. There are 38 pages on Frederick Douglas on Wikipedia giving far more detail.

Sources used
Wikipedia
Biography for Kids