Henry Box Brown

author

Henry Box Brown

1815–1897

Best known for mailing himself to freedom in 1849, this remarkable abolitionist turned a daring escape into a life of public storytelling and performance. His story is one of courage, reinvention, and a refusal to let slavery define the rest of his life.

1 Audiobook

Narrative of Henry Box Brown Who Escaped from Slavery Enclosed in a Box 3 Feet Long and 2 Wide

Narrative of Henry Box Brown Who Escaped from Slavery Enclosed in a Box 3 Feet Long and 2 Wide

by Henry Box Brown

About the author

Born into slavery in Virginia around 1815 or 1816, Henry "Box" Brown became famous after escaping in 1849 by having himself shipped in a wooden crate from Richmond to abolitionists in Philadelphia. The escape came after the traumatic sale of his wife and children, and it made him one of the most memorable freedom seekers in American history.

After reaching freedom, he became an abolitionist speaker and shared his story in print, including a published narrative of his life. He also presented a moving panorama about slavery and eventually built a career as a performer, using the stage to hold audiences' attention while keeping his story alive.

Brown later spent many years in Britain and is reported to have died in 1897. Today he is remembered not only for the ingenuity of his escape, but also for the way he transformed personal survival into a public witness against slavery.