He put to shame thousands of white boys.

He fled from slavery at twenty-one, went North, and worked as a stevedore in New York and New Bedford.

At Nantucket he was given an opportunity to speak at an anti-slavery meeting, and made so favorable an impression that he was made agent of the Anti-Slavery Society of Massachusetts.

While traveling from place to place to lecture, he would study with all his might.

He was sent to Europe to lecture, and won the friendship of several Englishmen, who gave him $750, with which he purchased his freedom.