Lucie Blackburn facts for kids
Lucie "Ruthie" Blackburn (born 1803, died 1895) was an amazing woman who escaped slavery. She found freedom in Canada with her husband, Thornton Blackburn. Together, they started the very first taxi company in Quebec.
Early Life and Escape
Lucie was born into slavery in Louisville, Kentucky. When she was about 28 years old, she worked as a nanny. During this time, she met and fell in love with Thornton Blackburn, who was 19. They got married.
Soon after their wedding, Lucie's slave owners died. She was then sold to a merchant who planned to sell her far away in the Deep South. But before she could be sold, Lucie and Thornton escaped. They traveled to Detroit using the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.
A Community Stands Up
In 1833, Thornton was found in Detroit and arrested because he had escaped slavery. Lucie was also arrested. Their arrest made many people angry, especially the growing Black community in Detroit and those who were against slavery.
This anger led to an event known as the Blackburn Riots. About 400 men gathered and charged the prison to free Thornton. At the same time, two brave women helped Lucie escape. One of the women secretly switched places with Lucie in her jail cell. This event was Detroit's first ever protest against racial injustice. Both Thornton and Lucie were then secretly moved out of the United States into Canada. They reunited in Montreal.
Building a Business and Helping Others
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In 1834, Lucie and Thornton moved to Toronto, Canada. They lived there for the rest of their lives. They used their time and money to support efforts against slavery in Canada. They also helped other African-Canadians.
The Blackburns started Toronto's first taxi company. They designed a special horse-drawn carriage that was red and yellow. It could carry four people and was called 'The City'. For a long time, the Blackburns were the only ones offering this kind of transportation. Later, other people realized how good the business was and started their own taxi services.
In 1999, the Canadian government recognized Lucie and Thornton as "Persons of National Historic Significance." This means they were very important people in Canada's history.
