John Brown (Chamberlin)/Chronology

by Joseph Edgar Chamberlin

Chronology.

1800

May 9. John Brown was born at Torrington, Connecticut.

1805

His family removed to Ohio.

1816

Joined the Congregational church at Hudson, Ohio.

1821

June 21. Married Dianthe Lusk.

1825

Appointed postmaster at Randolph, Pennsylvania.

1832

August 10. His first wife died.

1833

July 11. Married Mary Anne Day.

1835

Returned to Ohio.

1837

Swore his family to active opposition to slavery.

1840

Made a trip to western Virginia to survey lands for Oberlin College.

1846

Removed to Springfield, Massachusetts, as selling agent of the Western wool-growers.

1847

Unfolded to Frederick Douglass a plan for a negro insurrection in the Virginia mountains.

1849

Went to England to sell wool, and visited the Continent.

Became associated with Gerrit Smith's plan to colonize negroes on Adirondack lands, and removed his family to a farm at North Elba, on these lands.

1850

Thanksgiving Day. Addressed a meeting of negroes at Springfield, and wrote to his wife concerning it, suggesting a militant intention regarding slavery.

1859

January–March. Conducted a small party of liberated Missouri slaves through the Northwestern States to Canada.

July 3. Appeared at Harper's Ferry. Hired a farm near there. Assembled men and munitions.

October 16. Attacked and captured Harper's Ferry with his band.

October 17. Was attacked by United States forces, wounded, and made prisoner.

October 26. Placed on trial at Charlestown.

November 2. Found guilty.

December 2. John Brown died on the gallows.

John Brown