Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, c. March 1822[1] – March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and social activist whose legacy is defined by her courageous efforts to rescue enslaved people via the Underground Railroad. Born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman endured a harsh childhood, marked by beatings and abuse by slave masters. At a young age, she suffered a traumatic head injury when an overseer accidentally struck her with a metal weight, leaving her with lifelong physical ailments, including dizziness and hypersomnia. Despite these challenges, Tubman’s spirit remained unbroken, and she attributed her strength to her religious faith, believing her visions and dreams were divine premonitions guiding her actions.
In 1849, Tubman escaped slavery, making her way to Philadelphia, but she soon returned to Maryland to rescue her family. Over the next decade, she conducted approximately 13 missions to bring around 70 enslaved individuals to freedom, including family members and close friends. Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad earned her the nickname "Moses," as she became a symbol of liberation. She traveled at night, using a network of abolitionists and safe houses, always in secrecy, and famously said, “I never lost a passenger”—a testament to her dedication and skill in guiding people to freedom without ever being caught.
After the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which made it more difficult for escaped slaves to find safety, Tubman expanded her efforts. She helped freedom-seekers travel further north into Canada, where they could be free from the threat of recapture. Tubman didn’t just help people escape; she also assisted them in finding work and establishing new lives once they were free. Her bravery and leadership in these missions made her a hero in the abolitionist movement, inspiring countless others to join the fight against slavery.
During the Civil War, Tubman’s activism shifted to supporting the Union Army. She worked as a nurse and cook at first, but soon became an armed scout and spy. Her most notable contribution was her leadership of the raid at Combahee Ferry, where she guided Union forces to liberate more than 700 enslaved people, making her the first woman to lead an armed military operation in the United States. Her actions during the war solidified her status as a fearless and effective leader in the fight for freedom.
After the Civil War, Tubman continued to fight for social justice, including women’s suffrage. She retired to Auburn, New York, where she cared for her aging parents and maintained a quiet life, but she remained active in advocating for women’s rights until her health declined. Tubman spent her final years in a home for elderly African Americans, which she had helped establish years earlier. Her legacy as a symbol of courage, resilience, and freedom endures to this day, and she is often quoted as saying, “I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger,” an enduring reminder of her dedication to liberating others.
