William Douglass (abolitionist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Douglass
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| Born | 1804 Baltimore, Maryland
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| Died | 1862 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Occupation | Reverend |
| Movement | Colored Conventions Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth, Sarah M. Douglass |
| Children | 9 |
William Douglass (1804–1862) was an important leader who worked to end slavery. He was also a Christian minister, called an Episcopal priest. He taught about peace, fairness for all races, and the importance of learning.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Douglass was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1804. His parents were African-American and were not enslaved, even though slavery was allowed in Maryland at that time.
He went to school at the St. James Church and School in Baltimore. This school was started in 1824 by Reverend William Levington especially for African Americans. At St. James, Douglass learned important languages like Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
Becoming a Minister
Douglass first became a Methodist preacher in Maryland. Later, he joined the Episcopal Church. On June 22, 1834, he was made an Episcopal deacon by Bishop Stone of Maryland. This happened at St. Stephen's Church in Cecil County.
After this, Douglass moved to Philadelphia. There, he served at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. In 1836, Bishop Henry Onderdonk of Pennsylvania ordained him as a priest. Douglass later wrote a book about the history of his church. It was called The Annals of the First African Church in the United States of America.
Fighting for Change
Reverend Douglass strongly believed in education for everyone. He thought people should learn both trades (like carpentry or sewing) and academic subjects (like history or math). He also believed that peace was most important, even when there was a lot of religious and racial trouble in Philadelphia during the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s.
He was an active member of the American Anti-Slavery Society. This group worked to end slavery in the United States. Douglass also fought for equal rights within the Episcopalian church. He wanted African Americans to have fair representation. He wrote a pamphlet about this issue in the year he passed away.
His Family
William Douglass was married two times. His first wife was named Elizabeth. His second wife was Sarah Mapps Douglass, who lived for twenty years after he died. William Douglass had nine children from his two marriages. He was very passionate about education, and this influenced his oldest daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Caroline, to learn useful trades.
Later Years and Legacy
William Douglass died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862. After his death, many records about him were not kept well. This was partly because he was not successful in getting equal representation for African Americans in the Episcopal church during his lifetime. However, his work for peace, equality, and education left an important mark.
