Frederick Augustus Washington  (BAILEY) DOUGLASS

Frederick Douglass was a remarkable individual whose life story is both inspiring and deeply impactful. Born into slavery around 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland, he initially knew little about his exact date of birth or his parentage. Separated from his mother at an early age, Douglass experienced the harsh realities of slavery from the outset.

Douglass' journey to freedom began when he was sent to Baltimore to work for a family named Auld. There, he secretly taught himself to read and write, defying laws that prohibited slaves from acquiring an education. This newfound knowledge fueled his desire for freedom and ignited his awareness of the injustice of slavery.

In 1838, Douglass made a daring escape from slavery, reaching New York and eventually settling in Massachusetts. He adopted the surname 'Douglass' to avoid capture and started a new chapter of his life as a free man. Douglass became actively involved in the abolitionist movement, working alongside prominent figures like

Frederick Douglass is born as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, a slave at Holme Hill Farm, Talbot County, Maryland.

His mother, Harriet Bailey, was a field slave from whom he was separated during his infancy. Douglass only saw his mother four or five times thereafter and for only a few hours each time. She had been sold to a man who lived twelve miles from where Douglass lived, and to see her son required that after her day's work in the field she walk the twelve miles, visit with him for a short time during the night, walk the twelve miles back to her home, and work a second day in the fields without rest. She died when Douglass was about seven.

Douglass never knew for certain whom his father was. He did know that his father was white, and he believed he was his master, Aaron Anthony.

To escape recapture following publication, goes to England lecturing on the American anti-slavery movement throughout the British Isles.

The presence of Frederick Douglass, a famous ex-slave who became a prominent abolitionist, publisher and spokesman against slavery, helped to enhance Rochester's reputation as a liberal minded city. In fact, Douglass used his own Rochester home as one of the stops used for fugitive slaves.

Chosen vice-presidential candidate at the Liberal Party convention. Delivers his famous speech, 'What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?' in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York.

Douglass visits President Lincoln, protests discrimination against black troops; visits President Lincoln in White House to plead the case of the Negro soldiers discriminated against in the Union army; receives assurance from Lincoln that problem will be given every consideration; visits secretary of War Stanton and assured that he will receive a commission in Union Army to Recruit Negro soldiers in South.

after New York Common Council refused to permit Negroes to participate in the funeral procession when Lincoln's body passed through the city. Later Mrs. Lincoln sends him the martyred president's walking stick.

During the 1872 presidential election, and Frederick Douglass was given an unexpected honor. He was chosen as one of the two electors-at-large from New York, the men who carried the sealed envelope with the results of the state voting to the capital. After the election, Douglass expected that he would be given a position in the Ulysses S. Grant administration, but no post was offered, so he returned to the lecture circuit.

Helen is a direct descendent of John and Priscilla Alden and a cousin to Presidents John and John Q. Adams. As a result, the marriage of a Mayflower Daughter to a former slave was yet another source of outrage to those who opposed the inter-racial marriage with Douglass.

He resigned in 1891.

On February 20, Frederick Douglass at Cedar Hill, Anacostia, after attending a women's rights meeting, was struck by a massive heart attack and died at the age of 77. As news of Douglass's death spread throughout the country, crowds gathered at the Washington church where he lay in state to pay their respects. Black public schools closed for the day, and parents took their children for a last look at the famed leader. His wife and children accompanied his body back to Rochester, where he was laid to rest. Helen works to preserve the Douglass home in memory of Frederick. www.math.buffalo.edu