Frederick Douglass

Born in February, 1818, on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery to become the founder and editor of an abolitionist newspaper, an eloquent speaker, and a leading reformer. His formative years were spent in Fells Point, where he lived intermittently from 1826-38 as a slave, teaching himself to read and write. In 1838, he obtained a "seaman's protection" paper from a retired sailor, certifying that the holder was a free American sailor and entitled to all rights under the American flag, and with this paper he made his escape from slavery to New York City. After the Civil War, he held high public office as a U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia in 1877, Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia in 1881, and Consul-General to the Republic of Haiti and Charge d'Affaires for Santo Domingo in 1891. Called the most prominent Afro-American of the 19th century and often the father of civil rights, Douglass was a crusader for human rights who never missed the opportunity to speak or act on behalf of the oppressed, and he died on February 20, 1895, following a speech on women's rights. Once known as "Douglass Row," the houses at 516-524 S. Dallas Street were constructed by Douglass in the 1890's, probably on the foundations of the old Strawberry Alley Methodist Church.

Baltimore, Maryland · United States