Harriet Tubman
Harriet Ross was born in Dorchester County, Maryland in the year 1820. Her parents were in the Ashanti tribe in West Africa, and worked on the Brodas plantation as slaves. Harriet was hired to be a laborer when she was only 5.
In 1844, Harriet married a free black man named John Tubman, but remained a slave. A few years later in 1849, when the owner of the Brodas plantation died, Harriet ran away in fear of being sold.
She ran 90 miles to the Mason-Dixon line with some help from people along the Underground Railroad. Her trip was successful and she settled in Philadelphia. A year later, she went back to Maryland and saved her sister's family. After she rescued her sister's family, she went back again and transported her brothers to the North.At this time, Harriet was well known and people were offering large rewards for her capture.
When the Civil War came, Harriet was a spy for the Union Army. She later on worked as a nurse in Washington DC and even though she received admiration from the military, she didn't get a government pension for more than 30 years.
Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia on March 10, 1913 at the age of 93.
By: Rebecca Deprey