Was John Brown a hero or a terrorist? He tried to end slavery, but used violence and killed people. Brown is like John Lennon if he spread his message through riots instead of music. He’s the only white guy Malcolm X approved. Brown believed violence and fear was the only way to make change happen. Was he right?
Brown was born on May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut. When he was 16, he left his family in hopes of becoming a Congregationalist Minister. However, he ran out of money and had eye inflammations, so he had to move back in with his parents in Ohio. He opened a successful tannery of his own. He married Dianthe Lusk and moved to New Richmond, Pennsylvania. This guy was handier than Bob the Builder because he built his own barn, cabin, and tannery. He had seven children, but then Brown hit a rough spot in his life. One of his children died, he became ill, his business was not doing well, and his wife died. He remarried to Marry Ann Day, whom was 16 years old. Wait, Brown was 34 when he married her. That’s weird, but at least she wasn’t his cousin (looking at you Edgar Allan Poe). In 1836, Brown and his family moved to Franklin Mills, Ohio. Once again he opened up a tannery and once again he ran into financial difficulties. A year later Elijah Parish Lovejoy was murdered. Lovejoy was an newspaper editor and abolitionist that criticized slavery. He was killed by a pro-slavery group. When Brown heard the news, he vowed he would end slavery.
In 1846, Brown and his business partner, Simon Perkins moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. It was like the head quarters of the anti-slavery movement. He became a member of the “Free Church”, where abolitionists came and gave speeches. He even spoke with Frederick Douglass. Brown and his partner ran a wool operation, but ran into financial disputes with Springfield marketers, whom were selling his wool for prices that were too cheap. Brown went to Europe to search for better business, but failed. He had to close his business and was faced with huge debt again. Poor Brown, he just can’t run a business.
In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, which stated authorities in free states had to assist slave states in capturing escaped slaves. In response to this Brown created the League of Gileadites to protect slaves escaping from Springfield. This was his first act in his abolitionist movement.
In 1855, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed that said Nebraska and Kansas were given the right to vote whether they would be a free state or a slave state. Pro-slavery supporters began to invade Kansas. Brown saw the corruption that was being committed and realized Kansas was practically being forced by pro-slavery supporters into becoming a slave state. On May 21, 1856, 800 pro-slavery supporters led by Sheriff Jones cause havoc in Lawrence, destroying a hotel and two printing presses. This angered Brown and he created a militia to fight back. Brown and his men killed five pro-slavery supporters north of the Pottowatomie River in Franklin County. However, it is disputed how involved or if Brown was involved in the killings at all. At the very least his followers caused havoc and murder following Brown’s ideals.
The next few years Brown gathered money, weapons, and supporters. He allied with six wealthy abolitionists, which provided his financial backing for his plan for a certain raid. These men were known as the Secret Six, not to be confused with Doctor Octopus’ Sinister Six. He met with famous figures such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and got some men from Harriet Tubman. Finally, after years of planning and preparation, Brown could commence his raid on Harpers Fairy, West Virginia. His ultimate goal was to start a slave revolt.
(It’s Brown cosplaying as Radagast the Brown?)
On October 16, 1859, before the raid Brown and his men took several people hostage including Lewis Washington, the great-grandnephew of George Washington. They raided the arsenal of Harper’s Fairy to get weapons. During the raid they killed a free black man, which was ironic. The next day, the community of Harpers Ferry set up their own militia. Brown battled the townspeople and relocated to a small engine house. The companions of Brown who tried to escape the house including his son were killed. President James Buchanan sent Brevet Colonel Robert E. Lee (yes, THE Robert E. Lee) and troops to take care of Brown. The next day, Brown was given a chance to surrender, but refused. Then an epic battle that lasted three minutes ensued. Brown and seven of his men were captured, five of his men escaped, and ten of his men were killed.
(An artist’s depiction of the battle at Harpers Ferry.)
On October 27, Brown was put on trial in Virginia for the murder of four white men and one black man, conspiracy to start a slave rebellion, and treason. After a week, Brown was found guilty on all three accounts. This is not surprising when you consider he was tried in the state he attacked. That’s like putting Osama Bin Laden on trial in New York. Brown was hanged on December 2, for his crimes.
In a sense John Brown was a terrorist. He and his buddies used violence and intimidation to try to achieve their political goals and they terrorized people. Brown’s role in the deaths has been debated. His men defiantly killed people, but some historians claim Brown thought his men went too far. People defend Brown by saying he was fighting fire with fire. The pro-slavery guys attacked first and Brown was just defending abolitionists. Also just the fact that he was trying to end slavery justifies his actions and even those deaths. That makes him a hero. There is a very thin line between terrorist and hero in this case. It’s all about perspective. No one was there when Brown made his decisions, so it’s tough to decide. However, I will say that he did do more good than harm when you look at what happened after his death. The Raid on Harpers Fairy is on of the events that set of the Civil War and the Civil War ended up freeing the slaves. Then again I could say Adolph Hitler was a major cause of World War II and World War II was the reason the U.S. got out of a financial crisis and it led to the world we have today. Every historical figure has made a contribution that was better or worse for the world.
This has been the eleventh installment of my Interesting Biographies series. Follow my blog for more entries in the future. Also read my previous biographies. Leave a comment if there is someone you want me to do a biography on.
Blake Bradford 