#5: Frederick Douglass
Born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in February 1817, Douglass was a true Renaissance man, playing pivotal roles as a social reformer, abolitionist, spellbinding orator, prolific writer, and esteemed statesman. His groundbreaking autobiographical work, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” not only soared to the top of best-seller lists but also wielded tremendous influence in advancing the cause of abolition.
He shattered barriers by becoming the first Black U.S. Marshal, leaving a mark as the most photographed man in 19th-century America. Throughout his life, he emerged as a prominent leader in the struggle against slavery. His profound work was a catalyst for the civil rights movement of the 1960s. In 1895, he participated in a meeting of the National Council of Women in D.C. and died of a heart attack on the way home.