I was born into slavery in 1818. My name was

Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey

My mother's name was Harriet Bailey

We were owned first by Aaron Anthony and then by his son-in-law Thomas Auld

"The white man's happiness cannot be purchased by the black man's misery."

I was raised by my grandmother, a slave, until I was almost 6 years old. After being given orders to, my grandmother walked with me 12 miles to the plantation mansion where she left me with the cook, Aunt Katy.

I would sleep in the kitchen closet for 8 months

When I was 8, I was sent from there to Baltimore to be a house boy for my master's relatives, Hugh and Sophia Auld. When I was about 12 I received a copy of The Columbian Orator, a popular school book. It was illegal for me to have the book but I was able to use it to learn to read as well as the power of the spoken word.

"No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck"

When I was 15 years old, I was sent back to be a field hand. This was a terrible way for anyone to live or to be treated. So around 18 I had an unsuccessful try at running away. I was send once again back to the Auld family in Baltimore.

In September of 1838, when I was about 20 years old, I tried running away one more time. Success!!! I was able to get away by impersonating a sailor.

" I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress"

I would eventually accomplish many notable and impacting things in my life:

I was the united states marshal for the District of Columbia

I was the recorder of deeds for Washington D.C.

I was the minister-general to the republic of Haiti

I became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln