Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson, born into slavery June 15, 1789 in Charles County[?], Maryland, escaped to Canada in 1830, and founded a settlement and labourer's school for other fugitive slaves at Dawn, Ontario. Henson's autobiography is believed to have inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. Died May 5, 1883 at Dresden, Ontario.

External pages:

Josiah Henson commemorative stamp (http://data2.archives.ca/ap/s/s003702k.jpg)
"THE OVERSEER...SENT MY MOTHER AWAY...TO A RETIRED SPOT" (http://vi.uh.edu/pages/mintz/20.htm)
Josiah Henson (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAShenson.htm)