People, Locations, Episodes

Henri Christophe, Revolutionary, and Haitian King

On this date in 1767, Henri Christophe was born. He was a West African slave and became an early Black king of (Haiti).

Maria Remedios, Abolitionist born

*The birth of María Remedios. is celebrated on this date in c1768. She was an Afro Argentine abolitionist and soldier. María Remedios del Valle was born in Buenos Aires in the second half of the eighteenth century. The details of her parentage are unknown, but according to her military record, she was a parda or pardo, one of the categories […]

Gabriel Prosser, Abolitionist born

The birth of Gabriel Prosser in 1776 is remembered on this date. He was a Black abolitionist.

A slave child, Gabriel was born to the family owned by Thomas Henry Prosser of the Brookfield Plantation in Henrico County, Virginia. Viewed as a “man of courage and intellect above his rank and life,” Prosser was a imposing figure. He was dark-skinned and stood 6 feet, 2 or 3 inches tall. He had lost two front teeth and his head was scarred. Unlike many slaves, he had been educated in his youth, and became a blacksmith, which gave him access to life beyond the plantation.

Opothleyahola, Native American Chief, and Slave Owner born

*The birth of Opothleyahola is affirmed on this date in c. 1778. He was a Native American, Muscogee Creek Indian chief, noted orator, and slave owner. Also known as Opothle Yohola, he was from Florida, a Speaker of the Upper Creek Council, and supported traditional culture. Although known as a diplomatic chief and Red Stick […]

Elihu Embree, Abolitionist born

*Elihu Embree was born on this date in 1782.  He was a white-American abolitionist and the brain trust of the Genius of Universal Emancipation, one of the first newspapers in the United States devoted exclusively to abolishing slavery.   Embree was the son of a Quaker minister who moved from Pennsylvania to Washington County in East Tennessee around 1790. It is unknown where he attended school, although some accounts suggest he was taught […]

Shubael Conant, Merchant, and Abolitionist born

*Shubael Conant was born on this date in 1783.  He was a white-American merchant, silversmith, businessman, and abolitionist.  Shubael Conant, the son of Eleazar Conant and Eunice Storrs, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut. He was apprenticed to the business of watchmaking at North Hampton and became thoroughly familiar with that trade. When twenty-six years old, […]

Arthur Tappan, Abolitionist born

*Arthur Tappan was born on this date in 1786. He was a white-American businessman, philanthropist, and abolitionist. Arthur Tappan was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, to Benjamin Tappan and Sarah Homes Tappan, a great-niece of Benjamin Franklin. He was the brother of Ohio Senator Benjamin Tappan, abolitionist Lewis Tappan, and a great-grandfather of Thornton Wilder. They were […]

Peter Williams Jr., Priest and Abolitionist born.

*The birth of Peter Williams Jr. is celebrated on this date in 1786.  He was a Black Episcopal priest and abolitionist. Williams was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the son of Peter Williams Sr., a Revolutionary War veteran, and his wife, Mary “Molly” Durham, an indentured servant from St. Kitts. After his family moved […]

The Underground Railroad in America, a story

The Underground Railroad, the organization which helped escaped African slaves from the South on their journey to freedom in the North and Canada, begun in 1787, is celebrated on this date.

Lewis Tappan, Abolitionist born

*Lewis Tappan was born on this date in 1788. He was a white-American abolitionist. From Northampton, MA., Lewis Tappan was the brother of Senator Benjamin Tappan and abolitionist Arthur Tappan. His middle-class parents, Benjamin Tappan and Sarah Homes Tappan, were strict Congregationalists. Once Lewis was old enough to work, he helped his father in a dry goods […]

Benjamin Lundy, Abolitionist born

Benjamin Lundy was born on this date in 1789. He was a White American abolitionist and news publisher.

He was from Sussex County, New Jersey and raised a Quaker. Lundy was working as a saddle maker in Wheeling, Vermont, when he first became troubled about the morality of the slave trade. In 1815, he created the Union Humane Society. In 1821, he began publishing the anti-slavery newspaper, Genius of Universal Emancipation. In 1829, Lundy brought on William Lloyd Garrison as co-editor before he moved to Boston and began the Liberator.

Josiah Henson, Abolitionist born

This date marks the birth of Josiah Henson in 1789. He was an 18th century Black abolitionist.

The first anti-slavery law in Canada was passed in 1783 by then Ontario. For the next 68 years it is estimated that 50,000 Blacks entered Canada for safety and freedom. One of them was Josiah Henson, a former slave from Kentucky. During his lifetime, three masters owned Henson. Henson started preaching to raise money in the hope of buying his freedom. His master took the money that Josiah had earned, and then raised the price of Henson’s freedom to $1,000.

Thomas Garrett, Abolitionist born

Thomas Garrett was born on this date in 1789. He was a White American businessman and abolitionist.

The son of a farmer from Delaware County, he became involved in the iron trade and after marrying, moved to Wilmington, Delaware.

Charles Deslondes, Abolitionist born

*The birth of Charles Deslondes is celebrated on this date, c. 1789.  He was a Black abolitionist.  Charles Deslondes was born on the Louisiana plantation of Jacques Deslondes.  Plantation succession records have Charles described as being a “Creole Mulatto slave” by the name of Charles, “about 16 years old”, and listed as a “field laborer.” Contrary to […]

John Mason Peck, Missionary, and Abolitionist born

*John Mason Peck was born on this date in 1789. He was a white-American Baptist abolitionist, teacher, and missionary. Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, to a farming family, Peck received little formal education but, in 1807, began to teach school. He was converted to Christianity at a revival at his Congregational Church. On May 8, 1809, […]