William Wells Brown

Date of Birth: November 6, 1814

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: November 6, 1884

Biography

William Wells Brown was an African-American abolitionist, novelist, playwright, and historian. Born into slavery in Lexington, Kentucky, Brown escaped to freedom in 1834 at the age of 20. He became a prominent anti-slavery lecturer, writer, and historian in the United States and abroad. His works include the pioneering novel “Clotel; or, The President’s Daughter” (1853), which is considered the first novel written by an African American. Brown was also the first African American to publish a travel book, “Three Years in Europe” (1852), and a play, “The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom” (1858). His contributions to literature and the abolitionist movement have cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in American history.

5 Interesting Facts about William Wells Brown

1. William Wells Brown was the first African American to publish a novel.

2. He was a self-taught man who learned to read and write after escaping slavery.

3. Brown was also a skilled orator and toured extensively in the United States and Europe speaking against slavery.

4. He adopted the name “Wells Brown” from a Quaker who helped him during his escape from slavery.

5. Brown’s daughter, Josephine Brown, also became a writer and published a biography of her father.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from William Wells Brown

1. “I was born a slave, but nature gave me a soul of a free man.”

2. “The duty I owe to the slave, to myself, and to my God, requires that I should use all honorable means to obtain my freedom.”

3. “I had rather be a free man in a country where all are free, than a slave in a country where all are slaves.”

4. “There is no slave so degraded as the slave who has lost all ambition to be free.”

5. “Freedom is a greater necessity than bread.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

There is no reliable information available regarding the highest net worth achieved by William Wells Brown.

Children

William Wells Brown had at least two daughters, Clarissa and Josephine Brown. Josephine Brown became notable in her own right for writing a biography about her father, furthering his legacy and contributing to the abolitionist literature.