Biography of Frederick Douglass

Colors and prayers

14 February 1818
20 February 1895
The long, sad affair American slavery lasted nearly four centuries, is full of men who have dedicated their lives to battle for freedom. In the early 1500 's, lasted until 1863, when President Lincoln freed the slaves and then gets that the American Constitution formally abolishes slavery. Among the strenuous because fighters abolitionist Frederick Douglass had a major role, becoming a leader of the movement and reaching the same consultant to President Lincoln. Born into a poor hovel near Easton, Talbot County, Maryland, on 14 February 1818 (the date is presumed), after a few weeks, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey was entrusted to grandparents.
Just six years old his grandmother accompanies his master on the plantations and, without any warning, abandoned him, provides him with an injury that will accompany him throughout life. Two years later he was entrusted, obviously as a slave to a certain Hugh Auld in Baltimore. Enter into the good graces of Sophia, wife of Hugh, very religious woman who wont read the Bible aloud and the small Frederick hears fascinated, until you ask her to teach him to read. The woman satisfied again and soon you notice the learning progress of the boy, but when Sophie recounts with satisfaction to the husband as it is happening, these rages because, whoops, "instruct the slaves means opening their minds to unhealthy idea of freedom". But Hugh does not realize that with her rant illuminates the mind of the boy for the first time buy full awareness of the condition of slave and his profound injustice. Unable to benefit from the lessons of Sophia, Frederick will complete their learning "stealing" basics to kids and to whoever is willing to read and write.
Finally, about twelve years, buy a textbook, "The Columbian Orator," and includes the formidable is the ability to express themselves orally, in writing, so as to educate consciences. Meanwhile his life flows in wretched conditions. At fifteen, Hugh, who considers him somewhat restless, yields it to a farmer, Covey, known "slavebreaker" (a kind of "Tamer" of slaves) which takes to mistreat him and beat him; but he responds and has the upper hand on the man who, from that moment, he begins to treat him with some respect while remaining he a slave. Three years later he finds himself again in Baltimore, at the Auld, but at the age of twenty Crown his dream Finally, after several attempts in previous years, to escape from slavery under the false guise of a sailor.
To encourage and help him escape there is Anna Murley, a free black girl accompanying him in adventure; eleven days later, on 15 August 1838, they were married and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where they adopt the surname Douglass. Here Frederick began attending abolitionist environments, participating in meetings and conventions and becoming an admirer of the great journalist William Lloyd Garrison, first through the pages of his newspaper, the "Liberator", and then following his talks at every chance. Invited to tell his story, in one of many meetings at which it takes part, becomes a lecturer part, appreciated by the same Garrison on his newspaper. In 1841 holds its first Antislavery society speech of Massachusetts, that calls for a three-year cycle of conferences.
From this moment begins to speak more and more often in public becoming a great speaker, one of the first among the blacks of America, and founded his newspaper, "the North Star". With the publication of the first autobiography in 1845, its fame is spreading beyond the borders of America invading Europe, where he travels serving there two years between England, Scotland and Ireland. The outbreak of the American civil war, from 1861 to 1865, caused by the issue of the slaves, he openly advocate the enlistment of blacks in the army until January 1863, Lincoln goes to the promulgation of the Emancipation Proclamation, greeted with jubilation and great emotion from the people of American color. In the subsequent July Douglass gets to be received by the President at the White House, which complains about the unequal treatment of blacks in the army; This time Lincoln welcomes his directions very stringent measures for the protection of the equal dignity of black soldiers. At that meeting will be followed by many others.
After Lincoln's death, Douglass covers various diplomatic assignments, leading up to the Vice-Presidency of the United States. The sudden death of his wife Anna, on 4 October 1862, throws him into a State of prostration which lasts for about a year; When shooting Frederick decides to get married again, and on 24 January 1884 goes married Helen Pitts, a white teacher, in his twenties, his neighbor. Frederick Douglass turns off unexpectedly to Washington, on 20 February 1895, at the age of 77 years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.