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1818 |
Born a slave, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, in Talbot County, Maryland. |
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1826-38 |
Taught to read by his owner's wife. Works in Baltimore as servant and laborer. Changes his name to Frederick Douglass and escapes to freedom in the North. Marries Anna Murray, a free Baltimore woman.
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1839 |
First hears abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips.
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1841-47 |
Speaks at an abolitionist meeting in Massachusetts and is employed as a lecturer for the Anti-Slavery society.
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1845 |
Publishes Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. Leaves for England and Scotland to escape slave hunters.
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1846 |
English admirers purchase Douglass' freedom and he returns to the US.
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1847 |
Publishes the North Star, a weekly newspaper in Rochester, New York. Becomes an eloquent spokesman for emancipation and for the rights of women. Meets John Brown in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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1848 |
Attends first Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, New York.
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1851 |
Breaks with Garrison over issue of political action to end slavery, which Garrison opposes.
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1853 |
Visits Harriet Beecher Stowe at her home.
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1855 |
Publishes his second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom. Helps runaway slaves to find freedom
via the Underground Railroad.
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1858 |
John Brown stays at Douglass' home in Rochester while planning to encourage a slave revolt.
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1859 |
Douglass refuses to support Brown and his planned raid on Harper's Ferry.
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1861-64 |
Works to aid the Union cause. Meets with President Lincoln to improve the treatment of African-American soldiers. Attends President Lincoln's second inauguration.
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1865 |
Receives President Lincoln's walking stick from Mrs. Lincoln.
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1872-81 |
Moves to Washington, DC, and purchases Cedar Hill, a fifteen acre estate, in 1878. Becomes federal marshal for the District of Columbia in 1877 and recorder of deeds in 1881.
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1884-87 |
Marries Helen Pitts, a white woman from Rochester, New York. They travel to England, France, Italy, Egypt and Greece in 1886-87.
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1889-91 |
Appointed minister resident and consul general to the Republic of Haiti. Resigns and returns to Cedar Hill in 1891. Continues to speak for oppressed people and as a champion of human rights.
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1895 |
Dies on February 20 at Cedar Hill after attending a women's rights meeting. Helen Pitts Douglass works to preserve the home in his memory.
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