Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Background

Frederick Douglass's original name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, his nick name was Bailey. Douglass was born in the month of February in 1818, in Maryland near Easton. His father was a slave named Harriet Bailey. Douglass possession was claimed by the Captain Aaron Anthony.

Douglass in his childhood used to live with his grandmother Betsey in a small house. He rarely got to see his mother in childhood because she was hired out. In the year 1824 he got separated from his grandmother by the Captain Aaron Anthony and he took him to the place he used to work. Later in 1826 Douglass was sent to Baltimore.

Struggles as a slave

From 1826 to 1833 Douglass lived in Baltimore, where he used to look after the son of Auld named Tommy, this was his first job as a slave kid. During this time he learned to write and read properly. Sophia Auld used to teach him till she was forbidden by her husband. Then later he used to study secretly.

Douglass had always been interested in reading about slavery in newspapers and used to update him over these issues. He also visited the churches of African American in the Baltimore. Douglass at age of twelve or thirteen bought his very own print of Columbian Orator. By the help of this book he taught himself public speaking and practiced the exercises of the book as well.

During 1833 Frederick Douglass's master brought him to Maryland. While his stay he planned and arranged a school secretly for the slaves along with refusing to whipping. A gang broke up the school and he was captured by the farmers notorious as slave breakers, who were given the authority to get the control over the rebellious and disobedient activities of Douglass. Even after this Douglass continued to fight against them and his status of slave. He planned out to escape from the slavery in 1836 but was caught and was sent back to Auld. After that he was lent to a ship-yard for making him learn the business of caulker. He attempted to buy his freedom but failed to do so. There he met a woman named Murray as well.

Escape from Slavery

Douglass successfully escaped from slavery in Sept, 1838 and went to NYC, and married Murray there. They had 5 kids in the next 11 years. He settled in New Bedford in 1838, where he was hired as a caulker for a shipping company known as whaling ships. For protecting himself from the catchers of slaves he separated the name Bailey and became well known with the name of Frederick Douglass.

Douglass started reading a Journal of abolitionist while he was in New Bedford and got engaged into the meetings of anti slavery which were organized by the churches of African American. He used to shares his experiences as well in such meetings.

He shared his experiences as a slave in the meeting of anti slavery society held at Nantucket Island. He was selected and recruited as a lecturing agent ...