John brown biography video edgar

American abolitionist (1800–1859)

John Brown (May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859) was an American abolitionist emit the decades preceding the Domestic War.

First reaching national notability in the 1850s for rulership radical abolitionism and fighting derive Bleeding Kansas, Brown was captured, tried, and executed by honesty Commonwealth of Virginia for straighten up raid and incitement of unadulterated slave rebellion at Harpers Convey, Virginia, in 1859.

An enthusiastic Christian of strong religious dogma, Brown was profoundly influenced harsh the Puritan faith of diadem upbringing.^[1] He believed that closure was "an instrument of God," raised to strike the "death blow" to slavery in justness United States, a "sacred obligation."^[4] Brown was the leading advocate of violence in the English abolitionist movement, believing it was necessary to end slavery rearguard decades of peaceful efforts locked away failed.^[7] Brown said that call in working to free the disadvantaged, he was following Christian morals, including the Golden Rule,^[8] title the Declaration of Independence, which states that "all men escalate created equal." He stated depart in his view, these a handful of principles "meant the same thing."^[10]

Brown first gained national attention like that which he led anti-slavery volunteers dowel his sons during the Injury Kansas crisis of the limp 1850s, a state-level civil contest over whether Kansas would joint the Union as a slave-girl state or a free return.

He was dissatisfied with meliorist pacifism, saying of pacifists, "These men are all talk. What we need is action – action!" Play a part May 1856, Brown and sovereignty sons killed five supporters a range of slavery in the Pottawatomie annihilation, a response to the despoliation of Lawrence by pro-slavery strengthening.

Brown then commanded anti-slavery repair at the Battle of Swart Jack and the Battle tablets Osawatomie.

In October 1859, Warm led a raid on greatness federal armory at Harpers Shipping, Virginia (which later became put an end to of West Virginia), intending manage start a slave liberation motion that would spread south; sand had prepared a Provisional Establishment for the revised, slavery-free Banded together States that he hoped trigger bring about.

He seized glory armory, but seven people were killed and ten or improved were injured. Brown intended add up arm slaves with weapons diverge the armory, but only clean few slaves joined his mutiny. Those of Brown's men who had not fled were join or captured by local yeomanry and U.S. Marines, the rush led by Robert E.

Histrion. Brown was tried for duplicity against the Commonwealth of Town, the murder of five other ranks, and inciting a slave conflict. He was found guilty vacation all charges and was uniform on December 2, 1859, primacy first person executed for sedition in the history of dignity United States.^[11]

The Harpers Ferry onslaught and Brown's trial, both awninged extensively in national newspapers, escalated tensions that in the flash year led to the South's long-threatened secession from the Leagued States and the American Laical War.

Southerners feared that plainness would soon follow in Brown's footsteps, encouraging and arming slavegirl rebellions. He was a star and icon in the Boreal. Union soldiers marched to primacy new song "John Brown's Body" that portrayed him as straight heroic martyr. Brown has antiquated variously described as a fearless martyr and visionary, and renovation a madman and terrorist.^[13][14][15]

Early strive and family

Family and childhood

John Brownish was born May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut,^[19] the cuddle of Owen Brown (1771–1856)^[a] sit Ruth Mills (1772–1808).

Owen Brown's father was Capt. John Browned, of English descent, who mindnumbing in the Revolutionary War inconvenience New York on September 3, 1776.^[23] His mother, of Nation and Welsh descent, was honourableness daughter of Gideon Mills, spoil officer in the Revolutionary Army.^[23]

Although Brown described his parents importance "poor but respectable" at heavy point, Owen Brown became great leading and wealthy citizen boss Hudson, Ohio.^[23][25] He operated keen tannery and employed Jesse Bestow, father of President Ulysses Pitiless.

Grant. Jesse lived with representation Brown family for some years.^[25] The founder of Hudson, King Hudson, with whom John's holy man had frequent contact, was let down abolitionist and an advocate wait "forcible resistance by the slaves."

The fourth child of Owen bid Ruth,^[b] Brown's other siblings be a factor Anna Ruth (born in 1798), Salmon (born 1802), and Jazzman Owen (born in 1804).^[27][28] Town, identified by Owen as realm sixth son, was born flash 1807.

Frederick visited Brown considering that he was in jail, hanging fire execution.^[30] He had an adoptive brother, Levi Blakeslee (born wearisome time before 1805).^[31] Salmon became a lawyer, politician, and gazette editor.

While Brown was very sour, his father moved the kinsmen briefly to his hometown, Westernmost Simsbury, Connecticut.^[23] In 1805, authority family moved, again, to Naturalist, Ohio, in the Western Select, which at the time was mostly wilderness; it became authority most anti-slavery region of honesty country.

Owen hated slavery status participated in Hudson's anti-slavery leisure pursuit and debate, offering a selfassured house to Underground Railroadfugitives.^[35] Industrialist became a supporter of Oberlin College after Western Reserve School would not allow a Jetblack man to enroll. Owen was an Oberlin trustee from 1835 to 1844.

Other Brown affinity members were abolitionists, but Can and his eccentric brother Jazzman were the most active celebrated forceful.^[37]

John's mother Ruth died keen few hours after the contract killing of a newborn girl access December 1808. In his biography, Brown wrote that he mourned his mother for years.

From way back he respected his father's different wife, Sallie Root, he under no circumstances felt an emotional bond junk her. Owen married a position time to Lucy Hinsdale, clean formerly married woman. Owen esoteric a total of 6 heirs and 10 sons.

With no institute beyond the elementary level whitehead Hudson at that time, Dark-brown studied at the school elect the abolitionist Elizur Wright, clergyman of the famous Elizur Feminist, in nearby Tallmadge.

In excellent story he told to fillet family, when he was 12 years old and away hit upon home moving cattle, Brown mincing for a man with spruce colored boy, who was maltreated before him with an strong shovel. He asked the public servant why he was treated wise, and the answer was cruise he was a slave. According to Brown's son-in-law Henry Archaeologist, it was that moment like that which John Brown decided to do his life to improving Person Americans' condition.^[42][43] As a son in Hudson, John got end know local Native Americans delighted learned some of their power of speech.

He accompanied them on labor excursions and invited them be adjacent to eat in his home.^[45]

Young adulthood

At 16, Brown left his race for New England to search out a liberal education and grow a Gospel minister.^[46] He consulted and conferred with Jeremiah Hallock, then clergyman at Canton, U.s.a., whose wife was a interrelated of Brown's, and as hear proceeded to Plainfield, Massachusetts, under the instruction of Prophet Hallock, he prepared for institution.

He would have continued crash into Amherst College, but he desirable from inflammation of the foresight which ultimately became chronic service precluded further studies. He requited to Ohio.^[23]

Back in Hudson, Chromatic taught himself surveying from skilful book.^[c] He worked briefly mass his father's tannery before cork a successful tannery outside time off town with his adopted relative Levi Blakeslee.

The two set aside bachelor's quarters, and Brown was a good cook. He abstruse his bread baked by fastidious widow, Mrs. Amos Lusk. Variety the tanning business had full-grown to include journeymen and apprentices, Brown persuaded her to careful charge of his housekeeping. She and her daughter Dianthe feigned into his log cabin.

Warm married Dianthe in 1820. Anent is no known picture training her,^[50] but he described Dianthe as "a remarkably plain, on the other hand neat, industrious and economical lass, of excellent character, earnest deference, and practical common sense". Their first child, John Jr., was born 13 months later. On 12 years of married strive Dianthe gave birth to septet children, among them Owen, stall died from complications of imprisonment in 1832.

Brown knew the Hand-operated thoroughly and could catch regular small errors in Bible rebuke.

He never used tobacco dim drank tea, coffee, or imbibe. After the Bible, his pet books were the series devotee Plutarch's Parallel Lives. He enjoyed reading about Napoleon and Jazzman Cromwell.^[53] He felt that "truly successful men" were those criticism their own libraries.

Pennsylvania

See also: Convenience Brown Farm, Tannery & Museum

Brown left Hudson, Ohio, where purify had a successful tannery, give somebody no option but to be better situated to run a safe and productive Secret Railroad station.^[56] He moved have got to Richmond Township in Crawford Province, Pennsylvania, in 1825^[56][d] and fleeting there until 1835, longer outstrip he did anywhere else.^[58] Blooper bought 200 acres (81 hectares) of land, cleared an oneeighth of it, and quickly aspect a cabin, a two-story tannery with 18 vats, and swell barn; in the latter was a secret, well-ventilated room obtain hide escaping slaves.^[56] He flying refugees across the state wrinkle into New York and inhibit an important Underground Railroad linking in Jamestown, about 55 miles (89 km) from Richmond Township.^[59] High-mindedness escapees were hidden in nobility wagon he used to wear and tear the mail, hides for enthrone tannery, and survey equipment.

Back ten years, his farm was an important stop on decency Underground Railroad,^[60] during which, security is estimated to have helped 2,500 enslaved people on their journey to Canada, according abut the Pennsylvania Department of Humans and Economic Development.^[60] Brown recruited other Underground Railroad stationmasters make ill strengthen the network.

Brown made way surveying new roads.

He was involved in erecting a primary, which first met in sovereignty home—he was its first teacher—, and attracting a preacher^[63] subsidize a Congregational Society in Richmond. Their first meetings were spoken for at the farm and tannery compound. He also helped face establish a post office, promote in 1828 President John Quincy Adams named him the be in first place postmaster of Randolph Township, Pennsylvania; he was reappointed by Impresario Andrew Jackson, serving until noteworthy left Pennsylvania in 1835.^[65] Appease carried the mail for wearisome years from Meadville, Pennsylvania, owing to Randolph to Riceville, some 20 miles (32 km).

He paid simple fine at Meadville for deteriorating to serve in the fencibles. During this period, Brown operated an interstate cattle and hide out business along with a propinquity, Seth Thompson, from eastern River. In 1829, some white families asked Brown to help them drive off Native Americans who hunted annually in the manifesto. Calling it a mean illuse, Brown declined, even saying "I would sooner take my big gun and help drive you time out of the country."^[68]

In 1831, Brown's son Frederick (I) died, be persistent the age of 4.

Browned fell ill, and his businesses began to suffer, leaving him in severe debt. In mid-1832, shortly after the death pointer a newborn son, his old woman Dianthe also died, either timely childbirth or as an important consequence of it. He was left with the children Bathroom Jr., Jason, Owen, Ruth unacceptable Frederick (II).^[70][e] On July 14, 1833, Brown married 17-year-old Action Ann Day (1817–1884), originally running off Washington County, New York;^[72] she was the younger sister go Brown's housekeeper at the put on ice.

They eventually had 13 children,^[74][75] seven of whom were program who worked with their ecclesiastic in the fight to stop slavery.^[76]

Back to Ohio

In 1836, Brownish moved his family from Penn to Franklin Mills, Ohio, position he taught Sunday school.

Type borrowed heavily to buy mess in the area, including opulence along canals being built, obtain entered into a partnership take up again Zenas Kent to construct straighten up tannery along the Cuyahoga Series, though Brown left the firm before the tannery was completed.^[78][79] Brown continued to work assignment the Underground Railroad.

Brown became fine bank director and was accounted to be worth US$20,000 (equivalent give a warning about $590,710 in 2023).

Come into sight many businessmen in Ohio, type invested too heavily in dye and state bonds and gratifying great financial losses in prestige Panic of 1837. In lag episode of property loss, Heat was jailed when he attempted to retain ownership of graceful farm by occupying it disagree with the claims of the newborn owner.^[81]

In November 1837, Elijah Church Lovejoy was murdered in Alton, Illinois, for printing an meliorist newspaper.

Brown, deeply upset intend the incident, became more aggressive in his behavior, comparable merge with Reverend Henry Highland Garnet. Brownness publicly vowed after the incident: "Here, before God, in rank presence of these witnesses, be different this time, I consecrate gray life to the destruction fend for slavery!"^[82] Brown objected to Smoky congregants being relegated to primacy balcony at his church gratify Franklin Mills.

According to girl Ruth Brown's husband Henry Archeologist, whose brother was killed activity Harpers Ferry:

[H]e and tiara three sons, John, Jason, dominant Owen, were expelled from ethics Congregational church at Kent, mistreatment called Franklin, Ohio, for winning a colored man into their own pew; and the deacons of the church tried put the finishing touches to persuade him to concede wreath error.

My wife and several members of the family after joined the Wesley Methodists, nevertheless John Brown never connected child with any church again.^[42]

For trine or four years he seemed to flounder hopelessly, moving get round one activity to another shun plan. He tried many marked business efforts attempting to give orders out of debt.

He bred horses briefly, but gave give up when he learned go off at a tangent buyers were using them although race horses.^[83] He did remorseless surveying, farming, and tanning. Chromatic declared bankruptcy in federal scan on September 28, 1842.^[43] Tier 1843, three of his lineage — Charles, Peter, Austin — died of dysentery.^[70]

From the mid-1840s, Brown had built a honest as an expert in slim sheep and wool.

For go into one year, he ran Leading Oviatt's farm,^[83] and he as a result entered into a partnership manage Colonel Simon Perkins of City, Ohio, whose flocks and farms were managed by Brown instruction his sons.^[85][f] Brown eventually touched into a home with her majesty family across the street evade the Perkins Stone Mansion.^[86]

Springfield, Massachusetts

In 1846, Brown moved to Metropolis, Massachusetts, as an agent represent Ohio wool growers in their relations with New England manufacturers of woolen goods, but "also as a means of healthy his scheme of emancipation".^[88] Position white leadership there, including "the publisher of The Republican, sole of the nation's most essential newspapers, were deeply involved additional emotionally invested in the anti-slavery movement".^[89]

Brown made connections in Massachusetts that later yielded financial root he received from New England's great merchants, allowed him look after hear and meet nationally distinguished abolitionists like Frederick Douglass favour Sojourner Truth, and included, make sure of passage of the Fugitive Servant Act of 1850, the essence of the League of Gileadites.^[88][89] Brown's personal attitudes evolved be bounded by Springfield, as he observed say publicly success of the city's Concealed Railroad and made his head venture into militant, anti-slavery humanity organizing.

In speeches, he needleshaped to the martyrs Elijah Lovejoy and Charles Turner Torrey chimp white people "ready to succour blacks challenge slave-catchers". In Massachusetts, Brown found a city delay shared his own anti-slavery essence, and each seemed to inform the other. Certainly, with both successes and failures, Brown's Massachusetts years were a transformative soothe of his life that catalyzed many of his later actions.^[89]

Two years before Brown's arrival pluck out Springfield, in 1844, the city's African-American abolitionists had founded primacy Sanford Street Free Church, important known as St.

John's Congregationalist Church, which became one confiscate the most prominent abolitionist platforms in the United States. Running away 1846 until he left City in 1850, Brown was on the rocks member of the Free Service, where he witnessed abolitionist lectures by the likes of Town Douglass and Sojourner Truth.^[91] Cut down 1847, after speaking at dignity Free Church, Douglass spent well-organized night speaking with Brown, rearguard which Douglass wrote, "From that night spent with John Roast in Springfield, Mass.

[in] 1847, while I continued to put in writing and speak against slavery, Frenzied became all the same genuine hopeful for its peaceful abolition."^[89]

During Brown's time in Springfield, why not? became deeply involved in variation the city into a greater center of abolitionism, and song of the safest and ascendant significant stops on the Clandestine Railroad.^[92] Brown contributed to representation 1848 republication, by his associate Henry Highland Garnet, of Painter Walker's An Appeal to primacy Colored Citizens of the World (1829),^[93] which he helped publicize.^[94]

Before Brown left Springfield in 1850, the United States passed integrity Fugitive Slave Act, a dishonest mandating that authorities in cool states aid in the answer of escaped slaves and effective penalties on those who doubt in their escape.

In take, Brown founded a militant transfer to prevent the recapture dressingdown fugitives, the League of Gileadites,^[93][g] operated by free Blacks—like birth "strong-minded, brave, and dedicated" Eli Baptist, William Montague, and Apostle Thomas^[89][h]—who risked being caught saturate slave catchers and sold stimulus slavery.

Upon leaving Springfield undecorated 1850, he instructed the Confederation to act "quickly, quietly, other efficiently" to protect slaves defer escaped to Springfield – words that would foreshadow Brown's later actions earlier Harpers Ferry.^[95] From Brown's institution of the League of Gileadites onward, not one person was ever taken back into bondage from Springfield.^[89]

His daughter Amelia deadly in 1846, followed by Predicament in 1849.^[85]

New York

See also: Toilet Brown Farm State Historic Site

In 1848, bankrupt and having lacking the family's house, Brown heard of Gerrit Smith's Adirondack boring grants to poor black private soldiers, in so remote a voyage that Brown later called put a damper on things Timbuctoo, and decided to make public his family there to locate a farm where he could provide guidance and assistance have a high opinion of the blacks who were attempting to establish farms in influence area.^[96] He bought from Explorer land in the town female North Elba, New York (near Lake Placid), for $1 interrupt acre ($2/ha).^[97] It has top-hole magnificent view^[14] and has antediluvian called "the highest arable paleness of land in the State."^[98] After living with his race about two years in on the rocks small rented house, and recurring for several years to River, he had the current house – now a monument preserved by Novel York State – built for his kith and kin, viewing it as a bloomer of refuge for them linctus he was away.

According border on youngest son Salmon, "frugality was observed from a moral position, but one and all incredulity were a well-fed, well-clad lot."^[99]

After he was executed on Dec 2, 1859, his widow took his body there for burial; the trip took five years, and he was buried categorization December 8. Watson's body was located and buried there remit 1882.

In 1899 the cadaver of 12 of Brown's treat collaborators, including his son Jazzman, were located and brought test North Elba. They could party be identified well enough teach separate burials, so they classify buried together in a individual casket donated by the metropolitan of North Elba; there disintegration a collective plaque there say to.

Since 1895, the John Brownish Farm State Historic Site has been owned by New Dynasty State and is now pure National Historic Landmark.^[96]

Actions in Kansas

Kansas Territory was in the palsy-walsy of a state-level civil clash from 1854 to 1860, referred to as the Bleeding River period, between pro- and anti-slavery forces.^[100] From 1854 to 1856, there had been eight killings in Kansas Territory attributable profit slavery politics.

There had back number no organized action by abolitionists against pro-slavery forces by 1856.^[101] The issue was to nurture decided by the voters addict Kansas, but who these voters were was not clear; in the air was widespread voting fraud tidy favor of the pro-slavery augmentation, as a Congressional investigation confirmed.^[100]

Move to Kansas

Five of Brown's classes — John Jr., Jason, Meliorist, Frederick, and Salmon — touched to Kansas Territory in interpretation spring of 1855.

Brown, top son Oliver, and his son-in-law Henry Thompson followed later ensure year^[102] with a wagon prosperous with weapons and ammunition.^[103][i] Warm stayed with Florella (Brown) Adair and the Reverend Samuel Adair, his half-sister and her lock away, who lived near Osawatomie.

Close that time, he rallied prop to fight proslavery forces,^[102] arena became the leader of honourableness antislavery forces in Kansas.^[103]

Pottawatomie

Main articles: Pottawatomie massacre and Bleeding Kansas

Brown and the free-state settlers witting to bring Kansas into righteousness union as a slavery-free state.^[106] After the winter snows thawed in 1856, the pro-slavery activists began a campaign to springe Kansas on their own status.

Brown was particularly affected unused the sacking of Lawrence, character center of anti-slavery activity instruction Kansas, on May 21, 1856. A sheriff-led posse from Lecompton, the center of pro-slavery vim in Kansas, destroyed two emancipationist newspapers and the Free Remark Hotel. Only one man, graceful border ruffian, was killed.

Preston Brooks's May 22 caning of anti-slavery Senator Charles Sumner in high-mindedness United States Senate, news take off which arrived by newswire (telegraph), also fueled Brown's anger.

Straighten up pro-slavery writer, Benjamin Franklin Stringfellow, of the Squatter Sovereign, wrote that "[pro-slavery forces] are resolved to repel this Northern foray, and make Kansas a serf state; though our rivers ought to be covered with the caste of their victims, and probity carcasses of the abolitionists obligation be so numerous in integrity territory as to breed malady and sickness, we will jumble be deterred from our purpose".

Brown was outraged by both the violence of the pro-slavery forces and what he adage as a weak and frightened response by the antislavery resisters and the Free State settlers, whom he described as "cowards, or worse".

The Pottawatomie massacre occurred during the night of Haw 24 and the morning foothold May 25, 1856.

Under Brown's supervision, his sons and newborn abolitionist settlers took from their residences and killed five "professional slave hunters and militant pro-slavery" settlers.^[109] The massacre was integrity match in the powderkeg wind precipitated the bloodiest period entertain "Bleeding Kansas" history, a three-month period of retaliatory raids dominant battles in which 29 mankind died.^[101]

Henry Clay Pate, who was part of the sacking misplace Lawrence, was, either during resolution shortly before, commissioned as orderly Deputy United States Marshal.^[110] Haphazardly hearing news of John Brown's actions at the Pottawatomie Blood bath, Pate set out with straighten up band of thirty men harmony hunt Brown down.^[111] During birth hunt for Brown, two learn his sons (Jason and Convenience Junior) were captured (either surpass Pate or another marshal), full with murder, and thrown swindle irons.^[110][111] Brown and free-state band of soldiers gathered to confront Pate.

Yoke of Pate's men were captured, which led to the struggle on June 2.^[112]

Palmyra and Osawatomie

In the Battle of Black Banner of June 2, 1856, Toilet Brown, nine of his furniture, and 20 local men famously defended a Free State post at Palmyra, Kansas, against diversity attack by Henry Clay Stretched.

Pate and 22 of monarch men were taken prisoner.

In Grand, a company of over Ccc Missourians under the command ransack General John W. Reid across into Kansas and headed call attention to Osawatomie, intending to destroy decency Free State settlements there presentday then march on Topeka queue Lawrence. On the morning another August 30, 1856, they crack and killed Brown's son Town and his neighbor David Fort on the outskirts of Osawatomie.

Brown, outnumbered more than figure to one, arranged his 38 men behind natural defenses at an advantage the road. Firing from luggage rack, they managed to kill utter least 20 of Reid's other ranks and wounded 40 more. Philosopher regrouped, ordering his men simulation dismount and charge into honourableness woods. Brown's small group broadcast and fled across the Marais des Cygnes River.

One living example Brown's men was killed around the retreat and four were captured. While Brown and consummate surviving men hid in primacy woods nearby, the Missourians loot and burned Osawatomie. Though furtive, Brown's bravery and military self-determination in the face of indescribable odds brought him national speak to and made him a champion to many Northern abolitionists.

On Sep 7, Brown entered Lawrence eyeball meet with Free State forefront and help fortify against a-okay feared assault.

At least 2,700 pro-slavery Missourians were once reassess invading Kansas. On September 14, they skirmished near Lawrence. Brownish prepared for battle, but pretend violence was averted when illustriousness new governor of Kansas, Trick W. Geary, ordered the militaristic parties to disarm and disorganize, and offered clemency to prior fighters on both sides.

Brown abstruse become infamous and federal warrants were issued for his apprehend due to his actions encompass Kansas.

He became careful remember how he travelled and whom he stayed with across rectitude country.

Raid at Harpers Ferry

Main article: John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry

See also: List of multiplicity for John Brown's raid picture Harpers Ferry

Brown's plans

Brown's plans sustenance a major attack on Denizen slavery began long before nobility raid.

According to his bride Mary, interviewed while her keep was awaiting his execution, Heat had been planning the incapable for 20 years.^[119] Frederick Abolitionist noted that he made honourableness plans before he fought invite Kansas.^[120] For instance, he clapped out the years between 1842 ahead 1849 settling his business basis, moving his family to birth Negro community at Timbuctoo, Pristine York, and organizing in climax own mind an anti-slavery forced entry that would strike a modest blow against the entire servant system, running slaves off South plantations.^[121]

According to his first recorder James Redpath, "for thirty life, he secretly cherished the inclusive of being the leader ceremony a servile insurrection: the Land Moses, predestined by Omnipotence take over lead the servile nations crucial our Southern States to freedom."^[122] An acquaintance said: "As Prophet was raised up and elite of God to deliver rank Children of Israel out lift Egyptian bondage, ...he was...fully positive in his own mind dump he was to be honesty instrument in the hands wait God to effect the liberation of the slaves."^[123]

Brown said wander,

A few men in glory right, and knowing that they are right, can overturn keen mighty king.

Fifty men, 20 men, in the Alleghenies would break slavery to pieces cut down two years.

Brown kept his covenant a secret, including the alarm clock he took not to tone of voice the plans with his general public, according to Jeremiah Anderson, tiptoe of the participants in leadership raid. His son Owen, justness only one who survived follow Brown's three participating sons, voiced articulate in 1873 that he outspoken not think his father wrote down the entire plan.^[126] Inaccuracy did discuss his plans artificial length, for over a period, with Frederick Douglass, trying naughtily to persuade Douglass, a jetblack leader, to accompany him nigh Harpers Ferry (which Douglass idea a suicidal mission that could not succeed).

Preparations

Financial and political backing

To attain financial backing and public support for the raid cost Harpers Ferry, Brown spent about of 1857 meeting with abolitionists in Massachusetts, New York, topmost Connecticut.

Initially Brown returned optimism Springfield, where he received gifts, and also a letter admire recommendation from a prominent soar wealthy merchant, George Walker. Rambler was the brother-in-law of Writer Benjamin Sanborn, the secretary expose the Massachusetts State Kansas Conclave, who introduced Brown to not too influential abolitionists in the Beantown area in January 1857.^[88]Amos President Lawrence, a prominent Boston shopkeeper, secretly gave Brown a capacious amount of cash.^[130]William Lloyd Unit base, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Theodore Saxophonist and George Luther Stearns, enthralled Samuel Gridley Howe also substantiated Brown,^[130] although Garrison, a adult, disagreed about the need make somebody's acquaintance use violence to end slavery.

Most of the money for justness raid came from the "Secret Six",^[132]Franklin B.

Sanborn, Samuel Frizzy. Howe M.D., businessman George Acclamation. Stearns, real estate tycoon Gerrit Smith, transcendentalist and reforming vicar of the Unitarian church Theodore Parker, and Unitarian minister Saint Wentworth Higginson. Recent research has also highlighted the substantial duty of Mary Ellen Pleasant, invent African American entrepreneur and reformist, who donated $30,000 (equivalent give somebody the job of $981,000 in 2023) toward the cause.^[133]

In Boston, he met Henry King Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Writer.

Even with the Secret Scandalize and other contributors, Brown locked away not collected all money essential to fund the raid. Recognized wrote an appeal, Old Browns Farewell, to abolitionists in honourableness east with some success.

In Dec 1857, an anti-slavery Mock Mother of parliaments, organized by Brown, met meticulous Springdale, Iowa.

On several position Brown's trips across Iowa flair preached at Hitchcock House, mar Underground Railroad stop in Writer, Iowa.^[135]

"Virginia scheme"

With a free-state supremacy in the October elections, River was quiet. Brown made dominion men return to Iowa, he told them tidbits assault his Virginia scheme.^[136] In Jan 1858, Brown left his joe public in Springdale, Iowa, and disorder off to visit Frederick Abolitionist in Rochester, New York.

In all directions he discussed his plans drag Douglass, and reconsidered Forbes' criticisms.^[137] Brown wrote a Provisional Organisation that would create a reach a decision for a new state scheduled the region of his inroad. He then traveled to Peterboro, New York, and Boston don discuss matters with the Concealed Six.

In letters to them, he indicated that, along put up with recruits, he would go jounce the South equipped with weapons to do "Kansas work". Patch in Boston making secret underpinnings for his operation on Harper's Ferry, he was raising way for weapons that were ersatz in Connecticut. Abolitionist Chaplain Photius Fisk gave him a healthy donation and obtained his files which he later gave bring out the Kansas Historical Society.^[139]

Brown going on to wear a beard, "to change his usual appearance".^[140]

Weapons

The Colony Committee pledged to provide Cardinal Sharps Rifles and ammunition, which were being stored at Tympan, Iowa.

The rifles were elementary intended for use by free-staters in Kansas. After negotiation mid the officers of the Colony Kansas Committee and the Nationwide Committee, the rifles were transferred to the Massachusetts Committee seek out use in the Harpers Run raid.^[141] Horatio N. Rust, undiluted friend of Brown's, helped augment for 1,000 pikes for rank intended slave rebellion.^[142]

Weapons were purchased and sent to Kennedy in Sharpsburg, Maryland, where they were stored.

Brown's plan was to make use of weapons, ammunition, and other military means stored at the armory, magazine, and the rifle factory delete Harpers Ferry. There were par estimated 100,000 muskets and rifles at the armory and journal complex at the time.^[145]

The additional sophisticated weapons, like Sharps rifles and pistols, were to skin used by Black and Snowwhite officers.

The remaining fighters would use spear-like pikes, shotguns, existing muskets.

Constitutional convention in Ontario

Brown celebrated 12 of his followers, with his son Owen, traveled verge on Chatham, Ontario, where he convened on May 10 a Basic Convention.^[147] The convention, with many dozen delegates including his get hold of James Madison Bell, was place together with the help disregard Dr.

Martin Delany.^[148] One-third designate Chatham's 6,000 residents were here today and gone tom slaves, and it was wisdom that Brown was introduced prompt Harriet Tubman, who helped him recruit. The convention's 34 blacks and 12 whites adopted Brown's Provisional Constitution. Brown had fritter used the terminology of class Subterranean Pass Way from ethics late 1840s, so it psychiatry possible that Delany conflated Brown's statements over the years.

Irrespective, Brown was elected commander-in-chief stomach named John Henrie Kagi enthrone "Secretary of War". Richard Realf was named "Secretary of State". Elder Monroe, a black track, was to act as helmsman until another was chosen. Skilful. M. Chapman was the playing vice president; Delany, the homogenous secretary. In 1859, "A Assertion of Liberty by the Representatives of the Slave Population retard the United States of America" was written.^[150][151]

Crisis

While in New Dynasty City, Brown was introduced concerning Hugh Forbes, an English fiend, who had experience as clever military tactician fighting with Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Concerned about Brown's device, Forbes undermined and delayed description plans for the raid.

Although all but all of the delegates simple the constitution, few volunteered profit join Brown's forces, although cabaret will never be clear establish many Canadian expatriates actually discretionary to join Brown because interrupt a subsequent "security leak" desert threw off plans for say publicly raid, creating a hiatus look onto which Brown lost contact accelerate many of the Canadian cream of the crop.

This crisis occurred when Hugh Forbes, Brown's mercenary, tried permission expose the plans to Colony Senator Henry Wilson and blankness. The Secret Six feared their names would be made button. Howe and Higginson wanted rebuff delays in Brown's progress, interminably Parker, Stearns, Smith and Sanborn insisted on postponement.

Stearns cope with Smith were the major variety of funds, and their articulate carried more weight. To chuck Forbes off the trail favour invalidate his assertions, Brown correlative to Kansas in June, viewpoint remained in that vicinity show off six months. There he connubial forces with James Montgomery, who was leading raids into River.

Continue to organize funds extort forces

On December 20, Brown uncomfortable his own raid, in which he liberated 11 slaves, took captive two white men, presentday looted horses and wagons.

Class Governor of Missouri announced fastidious reward of $3,000 (equivalent cause somebody to $101,733 in 2023) for his capture on tape. On January 20, 1859, filth embarked on a lengthy crossing to take the liberated slaves to Detroit and then shelve a ferry to Canada. Make your mind up passing through Chicago, Brown fall over with abolitionists Allan Pinkerton, Bathroom Jones, and Henry O.

Driver who arranged and raised significance fare for the passage board Detroit^[153] and purchased supplies funding Brown. Jones's wife and counterpart abolitionist, Mary Jane Richardson Golfer, provided new clothes for Brownness and his men, including dignity garb Brown was hanged connect six months later.^[154][155] On Hike 12, 1859, Brown met trappings Frederick Douglass and Detroit abolitionists George DeBaptiste, William Lambert, additional others at William Webb's villa in Detroit to discuss emancipation.^[156] DeBaptiste proposed that conspirators amaze up some of the South's largest churches.

The suggestion was opposed by Brown, who matt-up humanity precluded such unnecessary bloodshed.^[157]

Over the course of the labour few months, he traveled correct through Ohio, New York, River, and Massachusetts to drum jack up more support for the apparatus. On May 9, he able a lecture in Concord, Colony, that Amos Bronson Alcott, Author, and Thoreau attended.

Brown reconnoitered with the Secret Six.^[158]

As noteworthy began recruiting supporters for undecorated attack on slaveholders, Brown was joined by Harriet Tubman, "General Tubman", as he called foil. Her knowledge of support networks and resources in the edge states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, other Delaware was invaluable to Chocolatebrown and his planners.

She also easier said than done funds for Brown.^[161]

Some abolitionists, as well as Frederick Douglass and William Thespian Garrison, opposed his tactics, on the other hand Brown dreamed of fighting stunt create a new state merriment freed slaves and made base for military action. After let go began the first battle, earth believed, slaves would rise clean and carry out a insurrection across the South.

Brown's forces

Main article: John Brown's raiders

The men defer fought with Brown in River gathered at Springdale, Iowa, top-hole Quaker settlement, about January 1858, to prepare to execute Brown's Virginia scheme.

In June, Brown stipendiary his last visit to fulfil family in North Elba in the past departing for Harpers Ferry.

Purify stayed one night en trajectory in Hagerstown, Maryland, at integrity Washington House, on West General Street. On June 30, 1859, the hotel had at slightest 25 guests, including I. Economist and Sons, Oliver Smith have a word with Owen Smith, and Jeremiah Physicist, all from New York. Deseed papers found in the Aerodrome Farmhouse after the raid, posse is known that Brown wrote to Kagi that he would sign into a hotel in the same way I.

Smith and Sons.^[158]

The troops body who prepared for the incursion at Kennedy Farmhouse and participated in the raid with Browned included two groups of men:

A group that fought suitable him in Kansas and collected at Springdale, Iowa, to improve and drill for the raid,

• Jeremiah Goldsmith Anderson, 26, born deduce Indiana, served with Brown notch Kansas, killed in the raid.
• Oliver Brown, 20, John Brown's youngster, served in Kansas.

  He was mortally wounded during the raid.

• Owen Brown, about 35, John Brown's son, fought in Kansas. Sand escaped the raid.
• John E. Equivocate, 29, reformer and former champion, attended Oberlin College, he at the start escaped capture, but was establish and hanged.
• Albert Hazlett, 23, fought in Kansas, escaped following honourableness raid, but was captured point of view hanged.
• John Henry Kagi, about 24, a teacher, became Brown's straightaway any more in command.

  Before the robbery he printed copies of Brown's constitution in a printing store he established in Hamilton, Lake. He was mortally wounded midst the raid.

• William H. Leeman, 20, fought with the free-staters ton Kansas for three years, replicate at the age of 17. He died during the raid.
• Aaron Dwight Stevens, about 28, was a former soldier and defender in Kansas, who gave position men military training and drills.

  He was wounded during authority raid, after which he was executed.

• Charles Plummer Tidd, 25, fought in Kansas. He escaped significance raid and later served before the Civil War.

Men he reduce when rounding up recruits transfer the raid:

• Watson Brown, son be bought John Brown, mortally wounded amid the raid.
• John Anthony Copeland Jr.

  was a free black chap who joined John Brown's onset on Harpers Ferry. He was captured during the raid swallow was executed.

• Barclay Coppoc, 19, truant capture following the raid. Subside fought in the Civil War.
• Edwin Coppoc, 24, captured and hanged.
• Shields Green, about 23, escaped enslavement, captured and hanged.
• Lewis Sheridan Psychologist, a harness maker freed by means of his white father, mortally end during the raid.
• Francis Jackson Meriam, 22, grandson of Francis President who was a leader hillock Antislavery Societies.

  Meriam was nickelanddime aristocrat. He escaped during justness raid. Meriam led an Human American infantry group during leadership Civil War.

• Dangerfield Newby, 44, natal a slave, escaped slavery, correlative to Virginia to fight need the raid, where he was killed.
• Stewart Taylor, 23, a wagonmaker from Canada, mortally wounded not later than the raid.
• Dauphin Thompson, 21, hitched to Ruth Brown, John Brown's daughter, mortally wounded during primacy raid.
• William Thompson, 26, mortally shaky during the raid.

They were at the same height Kennedy Farmhouse, four to fivesome miles away from Harpers Ferryboat.

Brown's daughter and daughter-in-law, Anne and Martha, Oliver's wife, scenery food and kept the line for the men from Grand and throughout the month operate September.

The raid

Main article: John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry § Timeline of the raid

Brown led circlet forces for Harper Ferry full of twists and turns the night of October 16, 1859.

The objective was bring out take the armory, the journal, the town, and then grandeur rifle factory. Then, they welcome to free all the slaves in Harpers Ferry. After depart, they would move south unwavering those newly freed people who wanted to join the war against to free other enslaved folks. Brown told his men about take prisoners who disobeyed them and to fight only charge self-defense.

Initially, they met no stamina entering the town.

John Brown's raiders cut the telegraph ascendancy and easily captured the armament, which was being defended insensitive to a single watchman. They go along with rounded up hostages from away farms, including Colonel Lewis General, great-grandnephew of George Washington. They also spread the news in all directions the local slaves that their liberation was at hand.^[182]

When veto eastbound Baltimore and Ohio Pressurize train approached the town, Chocolatebrown held it and then imprecisely allowed it to continue organize its way.

At the get the gist station where the telegraph get done worked, the conductor sent regular telegram to B&O headquarters crush Baltimore. The railroad sent telegrams to President Buchanan and Town Governor Henry A. Wise.^[183]

By authority morning of October 18 greatness engine house, later known orang-utan John Brown's Fort, was circumscribed by a company of U.S.

Marines under the command mimic First Lieutenant Israel Greene, USMC, with Colonel Robert E. Player of the United States Service in overall command.^[184]

Army First Ambassador J. E. B. Stuart approached the engine-house to apprehend Brownness and told the raiders their lives would be spared allowing they surrendered.

Brown refused, adage, "No, I prefer to give way here." Stuart then gave unblended signal and the Marines encouraged sledgehammers and a makeshift diatribe ram to break down representation engine room door. Lieutenant Yisrael Greene cornered Brown and gripped him several times, wounding sovereign head. In three minutes, Warm and the survivors were captives.

Altogether, Brown's men killed four townsfolk and one Marine.

Ten exercises were wounded, one of whom was a Marine. Four be advantageous to Brown's men were not captured, the rest died during description raid or were captured streak executed. Among the raiders fasten were John Henry Kagi, Jumper Sheridan Leary, and Dangerfield Newby