Skip to Page Content
The Frederick Douglass Organization
Frederick Douglass Biography
1848 - 1851
- 1848, July 19-20 Attends first Women's Rights Convention at Seneca
Falls, New York; begins lifelong crusade for women's voting rights.
- 1848, September 3 Addresses letter “To My old Master, Thomas
Auld” his former master, on the tenth anniversary of his escape
from slavery in The North Star, accusing Auld of abandoning his grandmother
Betsey Bailey in her old age.
- 1849, March 22 Daughter Annie is born.
- 1849, May 5 Attacked by gang of toughs when he walks along Battery
in New York City with two British women friends, Julia and Eliza Griffiths.
- 1849, September 3 Writes letter to Auld, his former master, on eleventh
anniversary of his escape from slavery after learning Auld had taken
Betsey into his household where she is cared for until her death in
November, 1849. Auld never sees apology.
- 1850 February 8 Publishes attack on Missouri Compromise of 1850.
- 1850, April 5 Speaks at Anti-Fugitive Slave Bill meeting in Rochester.
- 1851, May 9 Openly breaks with Garrison over issue of political action
to end slavery, which Garrison opposes; hence forth the two become bitter
enemies.
- 1851, June 26 Changes name of publication to Frederick Douglass' Paper,
accepts subsidy from wealthy anti-Garrisonian political activist, Gerrit
Smith. Also announces that he will no longer use the initials “F.D.”
to identify his editorials which were used to answer charge that a fugitive
slave could not have written them; asserts that he will now “assume
fully the right and dignity of an Editor–a Mr. Editor if you please!”
- 1851, September Aids three fugitive Maryland slaves, wanted for murdering
their f former master when he tried to recapture them in Pennsylvania
in escaping to Canada. The three are among hundreds Douglass helps flee
to freedom as “station master” of the Rochester terminus
of the Underground Railroad.
- 1852, May 11-13 Engages in bitter battle with Garrisonians at annual
meeting of American Anti-Society; opposes Garrisonians on dissolution
of the American Union, Constitution as a proslavery document, and political
action; split between Douglass and Garrisonians officially proclaimed.
- 1852, July 5 Delivers his famous speech, “What to the Slave
is the Fourth of July?” in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York.
- 1852, September 30 Attends and chosen Vice-President of Liberty party
Convention at Syracuse.
- 1851- Becomes increasingly engrossed with politics, first with
- 1859 the abolitionist Liberty Party headed by Gerrit Smith, later
with the new Republican Party. Endorses Republican John C. Fremont for
president in 1856.
- 1853, February Visits Harriet Beecher Stowe at her home.
- 1855, August Publishes second of his autobiographies My Bondage and
My Freedom, a more balanced account of his early life than the Narrative.
- 1855, September 12 Attends Liberty Party Convention at Ithaca, New
York; nominated for office of Secretary of State of New York, first
time such an honor conferred on an American Negro.
- 1857, May 11 Delivers lecture on “The Dred Scott Decision,”
before American Anti-Slavery Society in New York.
- 1850 February 8 Publishes attack on Missouri Compromise of 1850.
- 1850, April 5 Speaks at Anti-Fugitive Slave Bill meeting in Rochester.
- 1851, May 9 Openly breaks with Garrison over issue of political action
to end slavery, which Garrison opposes; hence forth the two become bitter
enemies.
- 1851, June 26 Changes name of publication to Frederick Douglass' Paper,
accepts subsidy from wealthy anti-Garrisonian political activist, Gerrit
Smith. Also announces that he will no longer use the initials “F.D.”
to identify his editorials which were used to answer charge that a fugitive
slave could not have written them; asserts that he will now “assume
fully the right and dignity of an Editor–a Mr. Editor if you please!”
- 1851, September Aids three fugitive Maryland slaves, wanted for murdering
their former master when he tried to recapture them in Pennsylvania
in escaping to Canada. The three are among hundreds Douglass helps flee
to freedom as “station master” of the Rochester terminus
of the Underground Railroad.
- 1852, May 11-13 Engages in bitter battle with Garrisonians at annual
meeting of American Anti-society; opposes Garrisonians on dissolution
of the American Union, Constitution as a proslavery document, and political
action; split between Douglass and Garrisonians officially proclaimed.
- 1852, July 5 Delivers his famous speech, “What to the Slave
is the Fourth of July?” in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York.
- 1852, September 30 Attends and chosen Vice-President of Liberty party
Convention at Syracuse.
- 1851- Becomes increasingly engrossed with politics, first with
1859 - 1865