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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