Frederick Douglass - Orator, Timeline and Family
Frederick Douglass's Personal Details
Frederick Douglass was a slave turned social reformer
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | February 1, 1818 |
| Died on | February 20, 1895 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African American Authors, Civil Rights Activists, Media Personalities, Publishers, African American Men, Orator |
| City/State | Maryland |
| Spouses | Anna Murray (m. 1838–1882), Helen Pitts Douglass (m. 1884–1895) |
| Known as | Frederick Douglass |
| Childrens | Annie Douglass, Charles Remond Douglass, Frederick Douglass Jr., Lewis Henry Douglass, Rosetta Douglass |
| Birth Place | Talbot County, Maryland, U.S |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Aaron Anthony |
| Mother | Harriet Bailey |
| Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Born in | Talbot County, Maryland, U.S |
| Famous as | American orator |
| Died at Age | 77 |
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Frederick Douglass's photo
Who is Frederick Douglass?
Frederick Douglass broke away from the shackles of slavery to become one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement in 19th century U.S. He strongly believed in the principle of equality and was of the view that all human beings, irrespective of race, gender, and nationality, are created equal. It is interesting to note that this great orator and social reformer was not even aware of his exact date of birth or the name of his father. Born a slave, he was shuttled from one owner to another until he finally reached the house of Hugh and Sophia Auld. Sophia was a kind hearted woman who treated the boy with love and taught him to read and write—a crime in those days. Douglass made it a point to teach other slaves whatever he had learned. In a great display of courage, he successfully escaped from his master and joined the abolitionist movement. He became involved with the American Anti-Slavery Society and published his autobiography which became a bestseller. He extensively toured Europe and published some abolitionist newspapers. He campaigned in favour of the black’s and women’s right to vote, and eloquently defended his stance at various conventions.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born to a slave woman, Harriet Bailey, as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Maryland. The exact identity of his father or date of his birth is not known. It is assumed that his father was one of his white masters, but there is no verification of this claim.
He was separated from his mother at an early age and was brought up by his maternal grandmother. His mother died when he was ten.
He became the property of Aaron Anthony, the overseer at the Wye House plantation. After the death of Anthony in 1826, he was given to Lucretia Auld.
Lucretia sent him to her brother-in-law, Hugh Auld. His wife Sophia was a kind woman who taught Frederick to read even though it was illegal in those times to teach a slave to read. However, her husband discovered this and stopped her from doing this.
He continued learning from white children in the neighbourhood, and by reading newspapers.
During 1833-34, he was given to a farmer Edward Covey who was notorious as a ‘slave breaker’. He beat up the teenage slave several times before Douglass finally fought back. Covey could not dare beat him again.
In 1835, he was rented to William Freeland, a plantation owner. There he organized a Sunday school and taught other slaves to read. His master did not bother, but other owners interfered and stopped the educational activities permanently.
Later Years
Tired of being ill-treated as a slave, he made an escape attempt in 1836 but was caught and jailed briefly. Thereafter, he was sent back to Hugh and Sophia Auld who, in turn, rented him out to work in a shipyard.
He met various free blacks through his involvement with the East Baltimore Mental Improvement Society, a debating club for free blacks. One of them was Anna Murray, a housekeeper who would later become his wife.
With help from Anna who provided him a sailor’s uniform and some money, he boarded a train to Havre de Grace on September 3, 1838. From there he traveled to the safe house of abolitionist David Ruggles in New York via Pennsylvania.
On September 15, 1838, he married Anna and settled in Massachusetts adopting the last name of Douglass. He became an active participant in church and abolitionist meetings.
He attended a meeting of the Bristol Anti-Slavery Society in 1841 where he was invited to speak about his experiences. After this, he was motivated by other abolitionists to become an anti-slavery lecturer.
He participated in the American Anti-Slavery Society’s Hundred Conventions project in 1843 during which he extensively toured all over the U.S.
In 1845, he published his first autobiography, ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave’, surprising people that a former slave—a black man—could write so eloquently. The book became a bestseller.
He traveled to Ireland and Britain and spent two years lecturing on slavery along with the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. He returned to U.S. in 1847.
He published some abolitionist newspapers - the most prominent of all was ‘North Star’, which remained in circulation till 1851. It was merged with the ‘Liberty Party Paper’ to form ‘Frederick Douglass’ paper’.
Along with abolitionism, he also voiced his opinion in favour of women’s suffrage. He participated in the first women’s rights convention – Seneca - in 1848, becoming the only African-American to do so.
In 1855, he published his second autobiography, ‘My Bondage and My Freedom’ in which he discussed his transition from a slave to a free man.
He started publishing ‘Douglass Monthly’, a supplement to ‘Frederick Douglass’ paper’ in 1859. It eventually became an independent publication and was in distribution till 1863.
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declaring the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territories took effect from January 1, 1863. He met President Abraham Lincoln the same year to discuss the treatment of black soldiers and black suffrage.
In 1874, he was made the president of the troubled Reconstruction-era Freedman’s Savings Bank. He worked with the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to stabilize the bank but could not prevent its closure.
He published his last autobiography, ‘Life and Times of Frederick Douglass’ in 1881. He gave an account of his life during and after the civil war, and of his meetings with the American presidents in this book.
He also held various political positions during his later years.
Major Works
He is mainly known for his work as an abolitionist. He was a social reformer who also campaigned for causes like women and black suffrage.
Despite any formal education, he wrote three in-depth autobiographies that describe his experiences as an escaped slave turned social activist. His books have been translated into several languages.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Anna Murray in 1838. They had five children. Anna was a devoted wife who supported her husband through thick and thin. He became depressed for a while after her death in 1882.
In 1884, he married Helen Pitts - a white feminist 20 years his junior. Their marriage caused considerable controversy as inter-racial marriages were very rare during those days.
He died on February 20, 1895 of natural causes.
Trivia
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington DC was named in his honour.
The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in his honour in the Prominent Americans series in 1965.
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Frederick Douglass biography timelines
- // Feb 1818He was born to a slave woman, Harriet Bailey, as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Maryland. The exact identity of his father or date of his birth is not known. It is assumed that his father was one of his white masters, but there is no verification of this claim.
- // 1826He became the property of Aaron Anthony, the overseer at the Wye House plantation. After the death of Anthony in 1826, he was given to Lucretia Auld.
- // 1833 To 1834During 1833-34, he was given to a farmer Edward Covey who was notorious as a ‘slave breaker’. He beat up the teenage slave several times before Douglass finally fought back. Covey could not dare beat him again.
- // 1835In 1835, he was rented to William Freeland, a plantation owner. There he organized a Sunday school and taught other slaves to read. His master did not bother, but other owners interfered and stopped the educational activities permanently.
- // 1836Tired of being ill-treated as a slave, he made an escape attempt in 1836 but was caught and jailed briefly. Thereafter, he was sent back to Hugh and Sophia Auld who, in turn, rented him out to work in a shipyard.
- // 3rd Sep 1838With help from Anna who provided him a sailor’s uniform and some money, he boarded a train to Havre de Grace on September 3, 1838. From there he traveled to the safe house of abolitionist David Ruggles in New York via Pennsylvania.
- // 15th Sep 1838On September 15, 1838, he married Anna and settled in Massachusetts adopting the last name of Douglass. He became an active participant in church and abolitionist meetings.
- // 15th Sep 1838 To 1882He married Anna Murray in 1838. They had five children. Anna was a devoted wife who supported her husband through thick and thin. He became depressed for a while after her death in 1882.
- // 1841He attended a meeting of the Bristol Anti-Slavery Society in 1841 where he was invited to speak about his experiences. After this, he was motivated by other abolitionists to become an anti-slavery lecturer.
- // 1843He participated in the American Anti-Slavery Society’s Hundred Conventions project in 1843 during which he extensively toured all over the U.S.
- // 1845In 1845, he published his first autobiography, ‘Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave’, surprising people that a former slave—a black man—could write so eloquently. The book became a bestseller.
- // 1847He traveled to Ireland and Britain and spent two years lecturing on slavery along with the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. He returned to U.S. in 1847.
- // 1848Along with abolitionism, he also voiced his opinion in favour of women’s suffrage. He participated in the first women’s rights convention – Seneca - in 1848, becoming the only African-American to do so.
- // 1851He published some abolitionist newspapers - the most prominent of all was ‘North Star’, which remained in circulation till 1851. It was merged with the ‘Liberty Party Paper’ to form ‘Frederick Douglass’ paper’.
- // 1855In 1855, he published his second autobiography, ‘My Bondage and My Freedom’ in which he discussed his transition from a slave to a free man.
- // 1859 To 1863He started publishing ‘Douglass Monthly’, a supplement to ‘Frederick Douglass’ paper’ in 1859. It eventually became an independent publication and was in distribution till 1863.
- // 1st Jan 1863Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declaring the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territories took effect from January 1, 1863. He met President Abraham Lincoln the same year to discuss the treatment of black soldiers and black suffrage.
- // 1874In 1874, he was made the president of the troubled Reconstruction-era Freedman’s Savings Bank. He worked with the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to stabilize the bank but could not prevent its closure.
- // 1881He published his last autobiography, ‘Life and Times of Frederick Douglass’ in 1881. He gave an account of his life during and after the civil war, and of his meetings with the American presidents in this book.
- // 1884In 1884, he married Helen Pitts - a white feminist 20 years his junior. Their marriage caused considerable controversy as inter-racial marriages were very rare during those days.
- // 20th Feb 1895He died on February 20, 1895 of natural causes.
- // 1965The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp in his honour in the Prominent Americans series in 1965.
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Frederick Douglass's FAQ
What is Frederick Douglass birthday?
Frederick Douglass was born at 1818-02-01
When was Frederick Douglass died?
Frederick Douglass was died at 1895-02-20
Where was Frederick Douglass died?
Frederick Douglass was died in Washington, D.C., United States
Which age was Frederick Douglass died?
Frederick Douglass was died at age 77
Where is Frederick Douglass's birth place?
Frederick Douglass was born in Talbot County, Maryland, U.S
What is Frederick Douglass nationalities?
Frederick Douglass's nationalities is American
Who is Frederick Douglass spouses?
Frederick Douglass's spouses is Anna Murray (m. 1838–1882), Helen Pitts Douglass (m. 1884–1895)
Who is Frederick Douglass childrens?
Frederick Douglass's childrens is Annie Douglass, Charles Remond Douglass, Frederick Douglass Jr., Lewis Henry Douglass, Rosetta Douglass
Who is Frederick Douglass's father?
Frederick Douglass's father is Aaron Anthony
Who is Frederick Douglass's mother?
Frederick Douglass's mother is Harriet Bailey
What is Frederick Douglass's sun sign?
Frederick Douglass is Aquarius
How famous is Frederick Douglass?
Frederick Douglass is famouse as American orator