Born into a prominent family in Torrington, Connecticut, Brown moved to Ohio in the 1820s and became involved in the abolitionist movement. He and his followers, known as the "Secret Six," planned to raid the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), and use the weapons to arm slaves in a general insurrection against slavery.
Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry failed, and he was captured by a detachment of U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee. Brown was tried for treason and murder in a Virginia court and was found guilty. He was sentenced to death and hanged in December 1859.
Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was a turning point in the abolitionist movement. It solidified the divide between the North and South over the issue of slavery, and it helped to radicalize many northerners who had previously been moderate on the issue. The raid also made Brown a martyr for the abolitionist cause, and his legacy continues to be debated and celebrated today.
Here are some additional facts about John Brown:
- He was the eldest of eight children born to Owen Brown, a tanner and farmer, and Ruth Mills.
- He had five children with his first wife, Dianthe Lusk. After Dianthe's death, he married Mary Ann Day, with whom he had 13 more children.
- Brown moved to Kansas Territory in the 1850s, where he became involved in the struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. He led anti-slavery forces in the Battle of Black Jack and the Battle of Osawatomie.
- In his final speech before his execution, Brown said, "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."
- Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry is often cited as an example of "terrorism," and some historians argue that he should be considered a terrorist. Others argue that Brown was a freedom fighter who was justified in using violence to achieve his goals.