Who was Henry Box Brown?

Henry Box Brown was a slave in Richmond, Virginia, who had himself "mailed to freedom" in a box to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1849. He later became a lecturer on the anti-slavery circuit, a magician, and an entertainer.

Why did Frederick Douglass object to Henry Box Brown's lectures?

Frederick Douglass objected to Henry Box Brown publicizing his escape because it prevented other slaves from using the same method.

What happened to Henry Box Brown's wife, Nancy, and their children?

Henry Box Brown's wife, Nancy, and their children were sold to a minister in North Carolina. Years later, this minister offered to sell them to Brown, but he refused, and so they remained enslaved.

How long was Henry Box Brown in the box from Richmond to Philadelphia?

Henry Box Brown was in the box from Richmond to Philadelphia for 27 hours.

Henry Box Brown Timeline: The Man Who Mailed Himself to Freedom

Definition

Henry Box Brown (l. c. 1815-1897) was an enslaved African American who became famous as "the man who mailed himself to freedom" after he had himself shipped in a box from Richmond, Virginia, to abolitionists in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 29 March 1849. Afterwards, he became a popular speaker on the anti-slavery lecture circuit and, later, an entertainer.

More about: Henry Box Brown

Timeline

c. 1815 - 1897
Life of Henry Box Brown, the slave who mailed himself to freedom in 1849.
1849
Henry Box Brown writes his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, published in Boston.
29 Mar 1849
Henry Box Brown has himself sealed in a crate and mailed from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to escape slavery.
1850
Henry Box Brown flees to England after US Congress passes the Fugitive Slave Act.
1850 - 1875
Henry Box Brown lives in England, works as an entertainer, marries and has a family.
1851
Henry Box Brown publishes the better-known edition of his autobiography in Manchester, England.
1875
Henry Box Brown returns to the United States with his family, continues as an entertainer.
1886
Henry Box Brown moves to Toronto, Canada, where he lives until his death in 1897.

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