Life span: 12/23/1815 to 02/13/1882TabsLife SummaryFull name: Henry Highland GarnettPlace of Birth: New Market, MDBirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: MaleRace: BlackSectional choice: NorthOrigins: Slave StateNo. of Spouses: 1No. of Children: 3Family: George Garnett (father), Henrietta Garnett (mother), Julia Williams (wife)Education: OtherOther Education: African Free School, NY; Noyes Academy, NHOccupation: ClergyEducatorRelation to Slavery: Slave or Former Slave Note Cards Henry Highland Garnet (Dictionary of American Biography) ScholarshipHe was born a slave, at New Market, Kent County, Md., escaped from bondage in 1824, and subsequently made his way to New York, where he entered school in 1826. He was one of the persons of African blood on account of whose matriculation a mob broke up the academy at Canaan, N.H., in 1835. His education was continued, however, under Beriah Green at Oneida Institute, Whitestown, N.Y. The intelligent and versatile Presbyterian minister, Rev. Theodore S. Wright of New York, with whom Garnet established an acquaintance, probably became the dominant influence in directing him to the gospel ministry. After finishing his education, he divided his time between preaching and abolition agitation in the employ of the American Anti-Slavery Society. While he did not neglect the ministry, he viewed the anti-slavery platform as his important post of duty. He easily took rank among the foremost negro Abolitionists, and his fame spread throughout the country. Allen Johnson and Dumas Malone, eds., "Garnet, Henry Highland," Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1960), 4: 154. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 04/19/1866 04/19/1866 Thousands of African-American citizens in Washington D.C. celebrate the anniversary of their emancipation Major TopicsUnderground Railroad Documents Subject Docs Date Title 09/19/1857 Earro Weems to William Still, September 19, 1857 07/08/1860 New York Herald, “A Curious Fourth of July Celebration,” July 8, 1860 10/10/1862 Anna H. Richardson to William Still, October 10, 1862 Images Henry Highland Garnett, detail Bibliography
Henry Highland Garnet (Dictionary of American Biography) ScholarshipHe was born a slave, at New Market, Kent County, Md., escaped from bondage in 1824, and subsequently made his way to New York, where he entered school in 1826. He was one of the persons of African blood on account of whose matriculation a mob broke up the academy at Canaan, N.H., in 1835. His education was continued, however, under Beriah Green at Oneida Institute, Whitestown, N.Y. The intelligent and versatile Presbyterian minister, Rev. Theodore S. Wright of New York, with whom Garnet established an acquaintance, probably became the dominant influence in directing him to the gospel ministry. After finishing his education, he divided his time between preaching and abolition agitation in the employ of the American Anti-Slavery Society. While he did not neglect the ministry, he viewed the anti-slavery platform as his important post of duty. He easily took rank among the foremost negro Abolitionists, and his fame spread throughout the country. Allen Johnson and Dumas Malone, eds., "Garnet, Henry Highland," Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1960), 4: 154.
