Samuel Charles Blackwell facts for kids

Samuel Charles Blackwell (1823–1901) was an important person from England and America who worked to end slavery. He was known as an "abolitionist." This means he was part of a movement that wanted to stop slavery completely.

Samuel Blackwell: A Champion for Freedom

Early Life and Family

Samuel Blackwell was born in England in 1823. His father, also named Samuel Blackwell, was a sugar refiner. Samuel's parents, Samuel and Hannah Lane, had eight children. In 1832, their family moved from England to the United States. They first lived in New York City and later moved to New Jersey.

Samuel Blackwell senior was strongly against slavery. He was also a Congregationalist and believed his daughters should get the same education as his sons. He taught his children to care about making society better. In 1838, the family was living in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was the same year Samuel's father passed away.

Fighting for Change

Samuel Charles Blackwell became an abolitionist himself, just like his father. He worked to end slavery in the United States. He was also a Unitarian, a type of Christian faith.

In 1856, Samuel married Antoinette Brown in Henrietta, New York. Antoinette was a very important person too. She was the first woman to become a minister in a recognized church in the United States. She was also a leading speaker in the Abolitionism and Women's Rights movements. This means she fought for both the end of slavery and equal rights for women.

After they married, Samuel worked in the hardware business and also bought and sold land. The couple lived in New York City and then spent many years in New Jersey. Samuel helped care for their children. They had seven children, but two of them died young. Each child was given a "double" last name: Brown Blackwell.

His Amazing Family

Samuel Blackwell came from a family of people who made a big difference.

• His brother, Henry B. Blackwell, was married to Lucy Stone. Lucy was a friend of Antoinette Brown from Oberlin College. Lucy Stone was also a key abolitionist and worked hard for women's right to vote.
• His sister, Elizabeth Blackwell, was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She was also the first woman to work as a doctor.
• Another sister, Emily Blackwell, was the third woman to graduate from a U.S. medical school.
• He also had two sisters who were writers: Sarah Ellen Blackwell, who wrote biographies, and Anna Blackwell, who translated books by other authors.