Death of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman, renowned as an abolitionist and a key figure in the Underground Railroad, passed away on March 10, 1913, in Auburn, New York, likely at the age of around 90. Born into slavery in Maryland around 1820, Tubman's early life was marked by hardship, including a traumatic injury that resulted in lifelong health issues. After escaping to freedom in 1849, she dedicated her life to rescuing other enslaved individuals, making numerous perilous trips into slave territories and earning her the nickname "Moses" for her leadership. During the Civil War, Tubman served the Union army in various roles and continued her advocacy for freed slaves post-war by supporting education and establishing a home for the elderly. Despite her contributions, she faced challenges, such as never receiving a pension for her military service. Tubman's legacy remains significant in American history, symbolizing courage and a relentless pursuit of freedom for all.
On this Page
Death of Harriet Tubman
Death of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman, the famous abolitionist and “conductor” in the Underground Railroad, died on March 10, 1913, in Auburn, New York. She was born into slavery around 1820 or 1821 in Dorchester County on the eastern shore of Maryland. Thus, when she died she was probably in her early 90s. Tubman lived a remarkably long time even by modern standards. It is that much more remarkable when it is remembered that very few slaves ever lived past the age of 50.
At the time of Tubman's birth, Maryland was a slave state. Her childhood was hard, and when she was 13 an overseer struck her with a two-pound weight for disobedience. Tubman's skull was fractured, and she would suffer from blackouts for the rest of her life. In 1849 she learned that she was likely to be sold and decided to escape. She successfully made her way to the free state of Pennsylvania.
Having achieved freedom, Tubman vowed to help rescue other less fortunate blacks, and found support from northern abolitionists. She made the first of her many trips into slave territory when she went to Baltimore, Maryland, and successfully helped several members of her family escape. Over a dozen more trips into the South followed, and Tubman helped hundreds of slaves escape during the 1850s. Despite her lack of formal education or training, she proved to be an excellent leader and organizer. She was given the nickname “Moses” by her admirers, as Moses had led the enslaved Jews from Egypt to a promised land where they were free. Naturally, she was hated by southerners and slaveowners. At one point, there was a $40,000 bounty on her head in Maryland.
After the onset of the Civil War, Tubman joined the Union army. She served in a variety of capacities, including cook, nurse, scout, and spy. She served primarily in the Carolinas, earning several commendations from Union officers. During these military campaigns in southern territory, she also helped many slaves escape from their masters.
When the Civil War ended, Tubman came to settle in Auburn, New York, and was active in fund-raising for new schools to help educate the freed slaves. She also began a home for elderly blacks, which was where she was living when she died in 1913. Despite her service to the Union during the Civil War, she never received a veteran's pension or other benefits.