TIMELINE
1859
October
Following John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, flees to Canada, then Great Britain.
1863
February
Begins recruiting African American soldiers.
August
Meets at the White House with President Lincoln on unequal pay for black soldiers.
1865
Speaks at opening of the Douglass Institute, an African American school in Baltimore.
1866
Co-founds the American Equal Rights Association with suffragist leaders.
1870
Buys New National Era newspaper in Washington DC.
1872
Runs as vice president on the Equal Rights Party ticket.
1874
Serves as last president of Freedman’s Savings Bank.
1877
Appointed US marshal for the District of Columbia.
1881
January
Publishes third autobiography, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.
March
Appointed recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia.
1882
August 4
Wife Anna Murray Douglass dies.
1884
January 24
Marries Helen Pitts.
1886
September
Begins yearlong tour of Europe and Egypt with Helen.
1889
Serves two years as US resident minister and consul general to Haiti.
1892
Publishes revised edition of The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.
1894
January
Delivers last great address, against lynching of African Americans in the South.
1895
February 20
Dies at Cedar Hill home in Washington DC.
1818
February
Born at Holme Hill Farm, Talbot County, Maryland.
1826
March
Sent to live in Baltimore with Hugh and Sophia Auld.
1827
Begins learning to read.
1831
Buys first book, The Columbian Orator.
1833
Returned to Thomas Auld, Hugh’s brother.
1836
First escape attempt failed.
1838
September 3
Escapes slavery by impersonating a sailor.
September 15
Marries Anna Murray in New York City.
1839
Daughter Rosetta is born, first of five children.
1841
Hired as a lecturer by the American Anti-Slavery Society.
1845
May
Publishes first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.
August
Begins two-year lecture tour of Great Britain.
1846
October
Freedom purchased by British supporters.
1847
December 3
Publishes first issue of the North Star.
1848
July
Attends Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York.
1851
May
Openly breaks with William Lloyd Garrison.
June
Changes name of newspaper to Frederick Douglass’ Paper.
1855
August
Publishes second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom.