Narrative of Henry Box Brown,: Who Escaped from Slavery Enclosed in a Box 3 Feet Long and 2 Wide

The Narrative of Henry Box Brown, Who Escaped from Slavery Enclosed in a Box 3 Feet Long and 2 Wide, published by Charles Stearns, details Henry Box Brown's daring escape from slavery in 1849. Brown, an enslaved man in Virginia, devised a plan to mail himself to freedom in Pennsylvania. He concealed himself in a wooden crate, approximately 3 feet long and 2 feet wide, with air holes, and had it shipped via wagon, steamboat, and railroad. After a 27-hour journey, he was freed in Philadelphia by abolitionists.1

Following his escape, Brown became a prominent figure in the abolitionist movement, sharing his story through public speaking and performances. The narrative, co-authored by Stearns, became a significant slave narrative, contributing to the anti-slavery cause. Due to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Brown later moved to England, where he continued to advocate against slavery.12