Frederick Douglass Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick Douglass Jr.
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Frederick Douglass Jr. c. 1862
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| Born | March 3, 1842 |
| Died | July 26, 1892 (aged 50) Washington, D.C., US
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| Other names | Fred Douglass Jr. |
| Occupation | Printer, Editor, Typesetter |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 7 |
| Parent(s) | Frederick Douglass Anna Murray Douglass |
| Relatives | Douglass family |
Frederick Douglass Jr. was an important American who lived from 1842 to 1892. He was the second son of the famous Frederick Douglass and Anna Murray Douglass. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he worked hard to end slavery. He was also a writer, newspaper editor, and helped recruit soldiers for the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Contents
Growing Up and Fighting Slavery
Frederick Jr. was the third of five children in the Douglass family. There were three sons and two daughters. When he was young, he helped his parents with the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped people escape from slavery.
Their home in Rochester, New York, was a safe house. They welcomed people seeking freedom. They gave them food, clothes, and a warm place to stay. Many of these brave people were heading to Canada to find freedom.
His younger brother, Charles Remond Douglass, remembered this time. He said they often had to wake up at midnight. They would help people who arrived by sleigh. They would start fires to warm them up. Everyone in the family helped with this important work.
Serving in the Military
During the American Civil War, Frederick Jr. joined his father. They both recruited soldiers for the Union Army. He became a Recruiting Sergeant. He was part of the 25th United States Colored Infantry Regiment.
Frederick Jr. did not fight in battles himself. But he was proud to help recruit soldiers. He worked closely with his famous father. His father was a top recruiter for the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. He also advised President Abraham Lincoln. They worked to get more Black men to join the Union Army. This helped the North win the war against the Confederate States of America.
His older brother, Lewis Henry Douglass, and younger brother, Charles Remond Douglass, joined the 54th Regiment. Charles was the very first Black man to enlist from New York.
Frederick Jr.'s Career
Frederick Jr. had many different jobs, just like his father and brothers. He was a printer and an editor. He learned these skills while working on his father's newspaper, The North Star. This paper was later called Frederick Douglass' Paper.
Later, he worked with his father and brother Lewis. They were co-editors of the New Era, also known as New National Era. This newspaper was for freedmen. These were formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. It was published from 1870 to 1874. This paper was similar to an earlier one, The National Era. That paper had published stories that became Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Frederick Jr. was also a trained typesetter. He finished his training in Denver, Colorado. His younger brother Charles later became the first typesetter hired by the U.S. Government Printing Office.
When his father became a United States Marshal in 1877, Frederick Jr. got a job too. He became a bailiff. Later, he worked as a clerk in the office of the Recorder of Deeds. His father was in charge of that office for Washington, D.C..
Family Life
On August 4, 1869, Frederick Douglass Jr. married Virginia Hewlett Douglass. They got married in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They had seven children together:
- Fredrick Aaron Douglass (1870–1886)
- Virginia Anna Douglass (1871–1872)
- Lewis Emmanuel Douglass (c.1874–1875)
- Maud Ardell Douglass (1877–1877)
- Gertrude Pearl Douglass (1883–1887)
- Robert Smalls Douglass (1886–1910)
- Charles Paul Douglass (1879–1895)
His Final Years
Frederick Douglass Jr. passed away on July 26, 1892. He was first buried at Graceland Cemetery. His wife, Virginia Hewlett, had died earlier in 1889.
When Graceland Cemetery closed in 1894, his remains were moved. He was reburied at Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Images for kids
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Virginia L. Molyneaux Hewlett Douglass
