People, Locations, Episodes

Harriet Purvis, Suffragist born

*Harriet Purvis’s birth is celebrated on this date in 1810. She was a Black abolitionist and first-generation suffragist.  Harriet Davy Forten was born in Philadelphia and was one of eight children of James Forten and Charlotte Vandine Forten, who lived at 92 Lombard Street. James Forten was a wealthy investor, businessman, and abolitionist born free. The Forten’s, a well-known […]

David Ruggles, Abolitionist, and Writer born

*The birth of David Ruggles in 1810 is celebrated on this date. He was a Black abolitionist, protest leader and writer.

From Norwich, Connecticut, Ruggles moved to New York City at age 17, where he began working in a series of small businesses. Reasonably successful his primary work in life, however, was abolition of slavery. One of the most radical men of his times, Ruggles advocated self reliance, and felt that those “who would be free, themselves must strike the first blow.” He dedicated himself to helping anyone who wished to do this.

Archer Alexander, Laborer, and Sculptor Model born

*The birth of Archer Alexander is celebrated on this date in c. 1810. He was a former slave and laborer who served as the model for the emancipated slaves in the Emancipation Memorial in Washington, D.C. He was the subject of an 1885 biography, The Story of Archer Alexander, written by William Greenleaf Eliot.  Archer Alexander was born a […]

Thomy Lafon, Philanthropist, and Abolitionist born

Thomy Lafon was born on this date in 1810. He was a Black businessman, abolitionist, and philanthropist.

Lafon was born a free person of color in New Orleans. His mother was Modest Foucher Lafon, a free woman of color born in Louisiana of a slave mother. His father was Pierre Laralde Lafon, a Frenchman who deserted the family when his son was still a boy. Pierre Lafon remained a bachelor sharing his home with his widowed sister, Alice Bodin. Young Lafon was self-educated and frugal with money from necessity.

Charles Sumner, Abolitionist in Politician born

Charles Sumner was born on this date in 1811. He was a White American politician and abolitionist.

Owen Lovejoy, Minister and Abolitionist born.

*Owen Lovejoy was born on this date in 1811. He was a White-American lawyer, Congregational minister, abolitionist, and politician. Born in Albion, Maine, Owen Lovejoy was one of five brothers born to Elizabeth (Patee) and Daniel Lovejoy, a Congregational minister and farmer. He worked with his family on the farm until he was 18, and his parents […]

The German Coast Uprising (Slave Revolt), a story

On this date in 1811, Black slaves rebelled against their white masters in Louisiana. Charles Deslondes and other slaves began the revolt on the plantation of Manual Andry.

Abby Foster, Abolitionist born

*Abby Foster was born on this date in 1811. She was a white American abolitionist and advocate of women’s rights.

Horace Greeley, Journalist, and Abolitionist born

*Horace Greeley was born on this date in 1811. He was a White American journalist and abolitionist.

From in Amherst, New Hampshire, he trained as a printer moving to New York City where he became a journalist. Greeley worked for the New Yorker and in 1841 established the New York Tribune, a newspaper he edited for over thirty years. Greeley took a strong moral tone in his newspaper and campaigned against alcohol, tobacco, gambling, prostitution and capital punishment. However, Greeley’s main concern was the abolition of slavery.

Wendell Phillips, Abolitionist born

*Wendell Phillips was born on this date in 1811. He was a White American businessman and abolitionist.

Henry Wilson, Politician, and Abolitionist born

*Henry Wilson was born on February 16, 1812. He was a White American political leader and abolitionist.

From Farmington, N.H., his birth name was Jeremiah Jones Colbath, and was legally changed in 1833. As a young man he operated a shoe factory at Natick, Mass., and attended the Strafford, Wolfsboro, and Concord Academies and taught school in Natick, Mass. He was elected to the lower house of the Massachusetts legislature in 1840. Wilson was an opponent of slavery, which caused him to leave the WHIG party.

John Fremont, Politician, and Abolitionist born

*John Fremont was born on this date in 1813. He was a White American soldier, politician and abolitionist.

From Savannah, Georgia, educated at Charleston College, he taught mathematics before joining the Army Topographical Engineers Corps in 1838. Among other field services, in 1842 Fremont mapped most of the Oregon Trail and climbed the second highest peak in the Wind River Mountains, afterwards known as Fremont Peak. Fremont made many expeditions; in 1845 he explored the Great Basin and the Pacific coast.

Henriette Delille, Religious Leader and Abolitionist born.

*The birth of Henriette Delille in 1813 is celebrated on this date. She was a Creole abolitionist and religious leader.

Harriet Jacobs, Author, and Abolitionist born

*This date celebrates the birth of Harriet Jacobs in 1813. She was an Black abolitionist and author.

Samuel Burris, Abolitionist born

*The birth of Samuel Burris in 1813 is remembered on this date. He was a black abolitionist and member of the Underground Railroad.