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AAS/EN 4343
Studies in African American Literature
The Life of William Wells Brown
Jaterrica Williams and M’Nyjah Young
Achievement
During Brown’s lifetime he
Intro
William Wells Brown was one of the most profound
writers of his time. Brown was said to have been born
in 1814 and passed November 6, 1884. He was an
abolitionist and novelist as well as a playwright.
Brown was the first African-American to publish a
novel. He and his works have had a profound effect on
literature. Brown’s writings depicted the ugliness and
brutal irony of slavery in a country founded on
“freedom.” Throughout his life Brown had a yearning
for knowledge and understanding.
Earlier Years
William Wells Brown was born on a plantation on the
outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky. Brown was the son of an
enslaved woman by the name of Elizabeth and his father is
said to have been a relative of his enslaver. During Brown’s
twenty years in slavery, he served many masters doing
various trades. At one point, Brown tried running away with
his mother, but to no avail. One day in January of 1834,
getting another opportunity, Brown ran away from the
steamboat of his owner. On his journey to freedom Brown
was helped by a Quaker family by the names of Mr. and Mrs.
Wells Brown. That is where his name came from. On his
departure Brown was given money to help him continue his
journey.
Later Years
After Brown's refuge with the Ohio Quakers, he used his first
shilling from work to buy a spelling book which he used to
teach himself how to read and write. The following 9 years,
Brown worked on a Lake Erie steamboat while also a
conductor for the Underground Railroad In Buffalo, NY. He
married a free a woman named Elizabeth Spooner. The two
had three daughters, one of whom died at birth. In 1836,
Brown moved to Buffalo, where he continued his career as an
abolitionist as a lecturer for the Western New York AntiSlavery Society. He then went on to become a speaker on
behalf of the Women's Rights and Temperance movements.
From 1849-1854, Brown lived in Europe where he gave
multiple speeches and wrote Clotel. His wife passed during his
stay in Europe. Brown soon remarried Annie Elizabeth Grey in
1860 and continued his literary and political career in Boston.
had many
profound achievements. He was
internationally known as a renowned
antislavery activist. He devoted his life to
reform. Brown broke ground in many areas of
literature for African Americans, writing the
first African American novel, having the first
play printed by an African American, and
writing the first African American
travelogue. Brown is even celebrated today
having an Elementary school named after him.
Works
Three Years In Europe (1852)
-Expanded to The American Fugitive In Europe (1855)
Clotel (1853) {novel}
The Escape or, A Leap for
Freedom (1858) {play}
The Black Man (1863)
The Negro in the American Rebellion (1867)
The Rising Son (1873)
My Southern Home (1880)
Works Cited
Engledew, Devin. “William Wells Brown (Ca. 1814-1884).” Blackpast.org, 8 Mar. 2007,
www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/brown-william-wells-1814-1884/.
“William Wells Brown | American Writer | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020,
www..com/biography/William-Wells-Brown.
“William Wbritannicaells Brown – NB Historical Society.” Nbhistoricalsociety.org,
nbhistoricalsociety.org/portfolio-item/william-wellsbrown/#:~:text=Brown%20personified%20the%20American%20Dream. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.
“William Wells Brown, 1814?-1884.” Docsouth.unc.edu,
docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/brownw/bio.html#:~:text=William%20Wells%20Brown%20(ca
.
“William Wells Brown Historical Marker.” Www.hmdb.org, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=81219. Accessed
18 Feb. 2024.
Studies in African American Literature
The Life of William Wells Brown
Jaterrica Williams and M’Nyjah Young
Achievement
During Brown’s lifetime he
Intro
William Wells Brown was one of the most profound
writers of his time. Brown was said to have been born
in 1814 and passed November 6, 1884. He was an
abolitionist and novelist as well as a playwright.
Brown was the first African-American to publish a
novel. He and his works have had a profound effect on
literature. Brown’s writings depicted the ugliness and
brutal irony of slavery in a country founded on
“freedom.” Throughout his life Brown had a yearning
for knowledge and understanding.
Earlier Years
William Wells Brown was born on a plantation on the
outskirts of Lexington, Kentucky. Brown was the son of an
enslaved woman by the name of Elizabeth and his father is
said to have been a relative of his enslaver. During Brown’s
twenty years in slavery, he served many masters doing
various trades. At one point, Brown tried running away with
his mother, but to no avail. One day in January of 1834,
getting another opportunity, Brown ran away from the
steamboat of his owner. On his journey to freedom Brown
was helped by a Quaker family by the names of Mr. and Mrs.
Wells Brown. That is where his name came from. On his
departure Brown was given money to help him continue his
journey.
Later Years
After Brown's refuge with the Ohio Quakers, he used his first
shilling from work to buy a spelling book which he used to
teach himself how to read and write. The following 9 years,
Brown worked on a Lake Erie steamboat while also a
conductor for the Underground Railroad In Buffalo, NY. He
married a free a woman named Elizabeth Spooner. The two
had three daughters, one of whom died at birth. In 1836,
Brown moved to Buffalo, where he continued his career as an
abolitionist as a lecturer for the Western New York AntiSlavery Society. He then went on to become a speaker on
behalf of the Women's Rights and Temperance movements.
From 1849-1854, Brown lived in Europe where he gave
multiple speeches and wrote Clotel. His wife passed during his
stay in Europe. Brown soon remarried Annie Elizabeth Grey in
1860 and continued his literary and political career in Boston.
had many
profound achievements. He was
internationally known as a renowned
antislavery activist. He devoted his life to
reform. Brown broke ground in many areas of
literature for African Americans, writing the
first African American novel, having the first
play printed by an African American, and
writing the first African American
travelogue. Brown is even celebrated today
having an Elementary school named after him.
Works
Three Years In Europe (1852)
-Expanded to The American Fugitive In Europe (1855)
Clotel (1853) {novel}
The Escape or, A Leap for
Freedom (1858) {play}
The Black Man (1863)
The Negro in the American Rebellion (1867)
The Rising Son (1873)
My Southern Home (1880)
Works Cited
Engledew, Devin. “William Wells Brown (Ca. 1814-1884).” Blackpast.org, 8 Mar. 2007,
www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/brown-william-wells-1814-1884/.
“William Wells Brown | American Writer | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020,
www..com/biography/William-Wells-Brown.
“William Wbritannicaells Brown – NB Historical Society.” Nbhistoricalsociety.org,
nbhistoricalsociety.org/portfolio-item/william-wellsbrown/#:~:text=Brown%20personified%20the%20American%20Dream. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.
“William Wells Brown, 1814?-1884.” Docsouth.unc.edu,
docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/brownw/bio.html#:~:text=William%20Wells%20Brown%20(ca
.
“William Wells Brown Historical Marker.” Www.hmdb.org, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=81219. Accessed
18 Feb. 2024.