Frederick Douglass

Abolitionist & Statesman

Born: February 1818 · Talbot County, Maryland (born enslaved, exact date unknown)

Died: February 20, 1895 · Washington, D.C.

Height: ~6'0"

Weight: ~200 lbs

Education: Self-taught; secretly learned to read from his enslaver's wife until she was forbidden to continue; read speeches and the Bible to educate himself

Pre-war: Escaped bondage in 1838; abolitionist lecturer; editor of The North Star newspaper

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress."

Biography

Escaped enslaved person, orator, author, and the most influential African American of the 19th century. Douglass advised Lincoln, advocated fiercely for Black soldiers' equal pay and treatment, and pushed the war toward being explicitly about abolition. After the war he fought tirelessly against the rollback of Black civil rights during Reconstruction.

Did you know?

Never knew his exact birthdate — he chose February 14 to celebrate it. Despite having no legal status until his freedom was purchased in 1846, he met with Lincoln three times; Lincoln rose from his seat to greet Douglass on his first White House visit.

Life Journey

Timeline

February 1818

🌅 Birth

Born enslaved near Easton, Talbot County, Maryland

1838

📍 Posting

Escapes slavery from Baltimore, disguised as a sailor

1838–1845

📍 Posting

New Bedford, Massachusetts — works as laborer, begins speaking against slavery

1847–1860

📍 Posting

Rochester, New York — edits The North Star; station on Underground Railroad

August 10, 1863

⚔️ Battle

Meets with Lincoln at the White House to advocate for Black soldiers' equal treatment

February 20, 1895

✝️ Death

Dies in Washington, D.C., hours after attending a women's rights rally