Sketch Of The Life Of Douglass

Frederick Douglass was boni in Tuckahoa, Talbot cüunty, Maryland, in February, 1817. His mother was a negro slave and his father was a white man. At the age of lü years ho was sent to Baltimore, where he learned to read and write. His owner later aüowed hita to lüre is own timo at $3 per week and he was employed in a ship yard. In September, 838, he fled trom Baltlmore and made his way to New York. Henee hu went to New Bodford, Mass., where he married and lived tor two or three years, supporting himself by day labor on the whurvcs and in various work shops. While there he changed his name to Douglass. He had previously been called Uoyds, the name of his old master. He was aided in his efforts for self education by William Lloyd Garrison. In the summerof 1811 he attunded an anti-slavery convention at Nantucket and made t speech which was so well received that hu was offered the agency of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery sociecy. In this capacity hetravulcd and lectured through the New England states for tour years. Large audiences were attracted by his graphie descriptions of slavery and his eloquent speeches. At this time he publlshed his first book, entitlrd "Narrative of My Experience in Slavery." In lStó he went to Europe and lectured on slavery to enthusiastic audiences in nearly all of the large towns of Great Britain. In i81ti his fricuds in England raised a purseof $750 to purchase his freedom in due form of law. Ho remaloed two years in Great Britain and in' 1847 began at Roehestor, N. Y , the publication of "Frederick Douglass' Paper," whose title was afterward changed to "The North Star." In 1855 he published "My Bondage and My Freedom." In 1859 the John Brown riots took place in Virginia. He was supposed to ba impllcated in these, and Governor Wise made requisition for his arrest upon the governor of Michigan, in which state he then was. To avuid dilliculty Douglass went to England, where he remained for Bix or elght months. He then returned to nochoster and oontinued the publk-ation "f his paper When the civil war bogan In lSlil he urgüd upon President Lincoln the employmönt of colored fcroóps and the ssuance of a proclamation of emancipatlon. In 1863, when it was at last decided to employ suL-li troops, he gave liis assistance !ü enllsting men forsuoh regiments, and wpecially the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-flfth Massachusetts. After the abolltlon of 8larery he discontinued thu publieatiou of '"8 paper, and applied himself tothe preparation and deilvery of lyceum lectures. 'n September, 1870, he became editor of We New National Era, in Washington, inis was afterward continued by his sons, wwis and Frederick. In 1871 hu was appointed assistant secft?.ry to the commission to San Domingo. Uu liis return President Grant appointed "m one of the territorial council for the district of Columbia. In 187 lio was wlcted presidential elector at large for the siatt; of New York, and was appointed to osrry the olectoral vote of the scato to Washington. In ltffij ho was appolntéd United States marshal tor the District of Colunubla.