Interesting Facts About Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most iconic figures in American history. Born into slavery, she became an abolitionist and a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She helped hundreds of slaves to freedom in the United States. Here are 30 interesting facts about Harriet Tubman that you may not know.

Her Early Life

1. Harriet Tubman was born Araminta Ross in 1820 in Dorchester County, Maryland.

2. She was the fifth of nine children born to Harriet Green and Ben Ross.

3. She was given the names Harriet after her mother and the name Tubman from her father, who was of Akan descent.

4. She changed her first name to Harriet when she was twelve years old.

5. At age five, she was hired out as a nursemaid to a neighbor for six dollars a year.

Her Escape From Slavery

6. At the age of twenty-seven, she escaped from slavery.

7. She followed the North Star to Pennsylvania and eventually made it to Philadelphia.

8. She later returned to Maryland to rescue her family and other slaves.

9. She made nineteen trips in total and helped nearly 300 slaves escape.

10. She was known as “Moses” for leading her people to freedom.

Her Activism

11. She was an active participant in the Underground Railroad.

12. She worked as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War.

13. She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war.

14. She was a key figure in the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

15. She founded the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged in Auburn, New York.

Her Later Years

16. She married a Civil War veteran named Nelson Davis in 1869.

17. She worked as a cook, laundress, and nurse for the Union Army.

18. She was a prominent figure in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

19. She was a speaker and an advocate for women’s rights, racial justice, and temperance.

20. She died in 1913 at the age of 93.

Legacy

21. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park is located in Maryland.

22. She was the first African American woman to have her photograph featured on a U.S. postage stamp.

23. She is the first African American woman to be honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol.

24. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999.

25. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1973.

Other Facts

26. She was a close friend of author and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

27. She suffered a severe head injury at age thirteen, which may have caused seizures.

28. She was an early advocate for birth control.

29. She was a strong supporter of the women’s suffrage movement.

30. She was a leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Harriet Tubman was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to the cause of freedom and justice. She was an abolitionist, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and a leader in the women’s suffrage movement. Her courage and determination helped to shape the course of American history.

Conclusion

Harriet Tubman was an inspiring figure whose legacy continues to inspire people today. Her story is a reminder of the power of the human spirit and the importance of standing up for what is right. She is an example of how one person can make a difference in the world.