Frederick Douglass: Accomplishments, Education, Early Life, Family, & Writings

Quick Facts

• Original Name: Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey
• Died: February 20, 1895, Washington, D.C.
• Notable Family Members:
  • Spouse: Anna Murray Douglass, Helen Pitts Douglass
  • Children: Rosetta, Lewis Henry, Frederick Jr., Charles Remond, Annie
  • Siblings: Sarah, Eliza, Perry, Kitty, Arianna, Harriet

Early Life and Enslavement

• Born as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Talbot County, Maryland, February 1818
• Owned by Captain Aaron Anthony and later by Anthony's son-in-law, Capt. Thomas Auld
• Separated from mother, Harriet Bailey, early on; she died when Douglass was around seven
• Lived with grandmother Betsey Bailey
• Educated in secret in Baltimore, initially taught by Sophia Auld
• First experience of physical resistance against slave breaker Edward Covey

Escape from Slavery

• Escaped in September 1838, journeyed from Baltimore to New York City
• Married Anna Murray, settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts
• Changed name from Frederick Bailey to Frederick Douglass

Abolitionist Career

• Inspired by William Lloyd Garrison's newspaper, The Liberator
• Became an agent for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society
• Published first autobiography in 1845: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
• Traveled to Europe, gained freedom through purchase by supporters
• Started newspaper The North Star in Rochester, New York, in 1847
• Shifted from Garrison’s philosophy to a constitutional approach by 1851

American Civil War and Post-War Activity

• Advocated for Black soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil War
• Met with President Abraham Lincoln multiple times
• Supported the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments
• Initially supported universal suffrage but later focused on Black male suffrage

Later Life and Legacy

• Held various government positions including U.S. Marshal and Recorder of Deeds
• Appointed U.S. minister to Haiti
• Married Helen Pitts in 1884, faced social backlash for interracial marriage
• Died February 20, 1895; his home became a National Historic Site
• Remembered for fighting for equality, challenging stereotypes, and pushing for social justice

Writings and Impact

• Published Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom, and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass
• His writings were a powerful tool against slavery and racial injustice
• Known as "Lion of Anacostia," his work and life celebrated during Black History Month

Significant Associations

• Associated with figures like John Brown, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony
• Involved in the Underground Railroad
• Supported movements that enhanced African American rights and visibility

Key Learnings

• Douglass’s life exemplified the fight from enslavement to social reform
• His ability to write and speak out powerfully against injustice elevated his status
• His legacy continues to influence the discourse on rights and equality.