John H. Brown 

John Brown, Circa 1850s, Britannica

"I have only a short time to live, only one death to die, and I will die fighting for this cause. There will be no peace in this land until slavery is done for."

 ​​​​​​​- John Brown, 1856, Kansas Territory

American abolitionist John H. Brown was born May 9, 1800. Brown believed speeches, petitions, and moral persecution were ineffective in attaining freedom for all.  He concluded an act of violence was the only solution in communicating opinions. Brown felt slavery was unethical. Unlike many anti-slavery activists, he was not a passivist. He believed in aggressive actions against slave owners.  

Brown grew up in a small household in Torrington, Connecticut. Although Brown did not have a great relationship with his father, he had a strong bond with his mother who projected her anti-slavery opinions onto him at a young age. As an adolescent Brown witnessed a haunting episode of abuse between an enslaved African American boy and his “master.” Brown’s mother  inspired him to stand up for African American rights.