Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey; February 14, 1818 – February 20, 1895) was a prominent African-American [[abolitionist]], author, and orator in the 19th century. Born into [[slavery]] in Maryland, Douglass escaped to freedom and became one of the most influential figures in the fight against slavery and for [[civil rights]] in the United States. Douglass was born into slavery on a [[plantation]] in Talbot County, Maryland, in 1818. His mother, Harriet Bailey, was a slave, and his father was a white man, most likely his mother's owner. Douglass was separated from his mother as an infant and raised by his maternal grandmother, Betsy Bailey. As a child, Douglass experienced the harsh realities of slavery, including hunger, brutality, and family separations. ## Education and escape While working as a house servant for Hugh Auld, a Baltimore shipbuilder, Douglass was taught to read and write by Auld's wife, Sophia. Despite being forbidden to continue his education, Douglass secretly taught himself to read and write. He later credited literacy as the pathway to his freedom and used his growing knowledge to forge connections with the free black community and abolitionist circles. In 1838, Douglass escaped from slavery by boarding a train disguised as a free sailor. He made his way to New York City and eventually settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he changed his last name to Douglass to avoid recapture. ## Abolitionist career and writings In Massachusetts, Douglass became active in the [[abolitionist]] movement, joining the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and frequently attending meetings. He became a protege of William Lloyd Garrison, the founder of the American Anti-Slavery Society, who encouraged him to share his story. In 1845, Douglass published his first autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave," which detailed his experiences as a slave and his escape to freedom. The book was a bestseller and garnered international acclaim. To avoid being recaptured as an escaped slave, Douglass traveled to the United Kingdom, where he continued to speak out against slavery and garnered support for the abolitionist movement. Upon his return to the United States in 1847, Douglass founded "The North Star," an anti-slavery newspaper that became an influential platform for abolitionist ideas. He went on to publish several more newspapers and later authored two additional autobiographies, "My Bondage and My Freedom" (1855) and "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass" (1881). ## Civil War and Reconstruction During the [[Civil War]], Douglass actively supported the Union cause and worked to recruit African-American soldiers for the Union Army. He met with President [[Abraham Lincoln]] several times to discuss the treatment of black soldiers and the emancipation of slaves -- eventually effectuated in the [[Emancipation Proclamation]]. Following the war, Douglass continued to advocate for civil rights, pushing for the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments during the [[Reconstruction]] era, which granted citizenship to former slaves and protected their right to vote. He held several government positions, including Marshal of the District of Columbia, Recorder of Deeds for Washington, D.C., and U.S. Minister to Haiti. ## Later life and legacy Douglass remained active in social reform and civil rights efforts until his death in 1895. Today, he is celebrated as a pioneering figure in the fight for African-American civil rights and as a powerful orator who used his voice and experiences to dismantle the institution of slavery. Frederick Douglass's life and legacy continue to serve as an inspiration for activists and champions of civil rights, emphasizing the importance of education, resilience, and the pursuit of [[social justice]].