One of America’s most prominent and well-known abolitionists, Douglass was born into slavery. At the age of 20 he escaped, settling in Boston. There he became involved in the abolitionist cause. He published his own newspaper, The North Star, and advocated for a number of other social justice causes, including workers’ rights and women’s suffrage. From the outset of the Civil War, he was one of the strongest advocates for a shift in the War’s aims from restoration of the Union to ending slavery. He also encouraged President Lincoln to allow African-Americans to fight in the Union Army. Douglass lived in Rochester from 1847 until the beginning of the Civil War. From there, he published his newspaper, offered his home as shelter to runaway slaves making their way to Canada, and continued to advocate for greater equality and justice for all people.

For More Information Please Visit: The Frederick Douglass Project at the University of Rochester