Profile of the Day: Frederick Douglass

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”

Today we remember abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery sometime around February 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. Although the exact date of his birth is unknown, Douglass chose to celebrate his birthday on February 14.

Image: Frederick Douglass / Library of Congress

While he was young, the wife of his master, Sophia Auld, began teaching Douglass the alphabet, despite laws that prohibited teaching slaves to read. Once his master put a stop to his lessons, Douglass continued to learn to read and write on his own believing that “knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom.”

After escaping slavery, Douglass became a powerful orator and leader of the abolitionist movement. He wrote several books, including his best-selling autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. The book detailed Douglass’s life as a slave and is credited with helping to fuel the abolitionist movement.

Douglas died on February 20, 1895 at the age of 77.

Explore Frederick Douglass’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related!

View Frederick Douglass’s Geni Profile